Consensus as a Management Strategy for Healthcare Organizations: Culture, Involvement and Commitment

Abstract

In public administration theory, the new version of laissez-faire classical liberalism has been conceptualized as the New Public Management (NPM). The application of NPM into the area of public services leads not only to institutional and managerial redesign, but also triggers revolution in the values of the public services system. The traditional, statist paradigm of public services placed strong emphasis on ensuring the fair and equal access of all citizens to public services. The overall impact of the NPM on public service delivery, including healthcare, illustrated with reference to the public services provision cycle. The NPM as an important part of the neo-liberal agenda was largely promoted by international economic and financial institutions - the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The economic crisis of the 1970s increased the level of dependence of many states of these institutions, and thus opened the way for the reforms imposed by them.