Strategic Leadership in the Public Services (Routledge Masters in Public Management)

In turbulent times, strategic leadership of public services becomes ever more important. Strategic leaders are steering their organizations into a new relationship with the public, often in conditions of intensified competition between public services providers and thus the quality of leadership they offer is critical.

Providing insights into useful approaches and techniques for strategic leaders, Strategic Leadership in the Public Services covers topics such as the nature of leaders and how leaders lead. It probes strategic thinking and thoroughly explores strategic processes of implementation, monitoring and evaluation. It provides advice on being strategic and encourages the reader to appreciate the challenges of strategic leadership in practice. In the end, the book argues that leadership and strategy have become hegemonic ideas for reinventing the state.

Replete with real world practical case studies and examples, drawn from a range of countries, the book provides students with a truly international outlook on the subject and offers a clear understanding of the emerging significance of leadership, strategic management, and public services reform. Essential reading for postgraduate students taking leadership and management courses for the public services, the book will also be a useful resource for individuals currently pursuing executive management careers in the public services, or hope to do so in the future.

Paul Joyce is a Professor and Director of Liverpool Business School at Liverpool John Moore’s University, UK. He is an author of books on strategic management, change management, and leadership. He has worked on education, research and management consultancy assignments in the UK and elsewhere.