The New Public Administration: management innovations in government
| Author | MOHAN KAUL |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-162X(199702)17:1<13::AID-PAD909>3.0.CO;2-V |
| Date | 01 February 1997 |
| Published date | 01 February 1997 |
The New Public Administration: management innovations
in government
MOHAN KAUL
Commonwealth Secretariat, London
SUMMARY
Over the last two decades there have been some fundamental changes in the working of
government which have resulted in major and visible management innovations in the
organizational structures and systems of government aimed at delivering greater ef®ciency,
and more responsive and ¯exible public services. The innovations have led to the `New Public
Administration'.
This article identi®es the innovations in thinking about the role and functioning of
government; about service users; about administrative structures and about staff. The article
also discusses the strategies and actions employed in the new synergy between the public and
private sectors, as well as the reforms in ®nancial planning and control systems.
In conclusion, the broad objectives of these reforms have been to shift emphasis from
developing plans to developing key strategic areas; to shift emphasis from inward-looking
systems to developing partnerships; to shift emphasis from inputs and processes to outputs
and outcomes; and to shift emphasis towards managing diversity within a uni®ed public
service. Finally, managerial pragmatism and political conviction are highlighted as essential to
motivating management innovation in government. (&1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)
INTRODUCTION
As in the private sector, management innovations do take place in government as a
part of the managerial process, particularly at operational levels. Often, such
innovations get unnoticed due to lack of incentives and motivation in government to
generalize or propagate such managerial developments. However, during the last
two decades there have been some fundamental changes in the working of
government that have resulted in major and visible management innovations in
organizational structures and systems in the aim of delivering greater ef®ciency, and
more responsive and ¯exible public services. These innovations have led to the New
Public Administration.
This movement has been pushed largely by a combination of economic crises and
geo-political changes resulting in reduced ®nancial resources for governments. Also,
it has been pulled by a sense of new possibilities and the development of a new set of
managerial strategies that promise to lever greater results from fewer resources.
Changes in the role and responsibilities of government have been largely driven by
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT, VOL. 17, 13±26 (1997)
CCC 0271±2075/97/010013±14$17.50
&1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dr Kaul is Director, Management and Training Services Division, Commonwealth Secretariat,
Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SW1, UK.
To continue reading
Request your trial