Making and Managing Public Policy

Understanding how public policy is made and managed is a key component in studying the disciplines of public management and administration. Such are the complexities associated with this topic, a deeper understanding is vital to ensure that practising public managers excel in their roles.

This textbook synthesizes the key theories, providing a contemporary understanding of public policy and how it relates to private and other sectors. It integrates this with the management and implementation of public policy, including outlines of organizations, practices and instruments used.

Pedagogical features include chapter synopses, learning objectives, boxed international cases and vignettes and further reading suggestions. This useful, concise textbook will be required reading for public management students and all those interested in public policy.

Karen Johnston Miller is Professor of Politics and Public Policy at Glasgow Caledonian University. She has worked in Africa, the USA and UK for public, non-governmental and academic institutions. Her research areas are: public policy, governance; political-administrative relations and representative bureaucracy. Prof. Johnston Miller has published extensively in these areas. She is a board member of a number of learned societies and editorial boards, and is joint editor of the journal, Public Policy and Administration.

Duncan McTavish is Professor of Public Policy and Management at Glasgow Caledonian University. He has worked in a number of universities and has operated in the UK and internationally as an academic, teacher, researcher and consultant. He has authored a substantial number of articles, books and other publications. He has also project managed major research projects. Professor McTavish is joint editor of Public Policy and Administration.