Public administration reform: a managerial perspective

Abstract

The reform of public administration is often designed and implemented by would-be reformers rooted in perspectives ranging from public law to political science to sectoral disciplines (social work, health, education, arts and culture, etc.). The value of the insights provided by these perspectives must undoubtedly be acknowledged; for reforms to deliver on their intended goals, though, they should rely on public management, i.e. the only discipline that puts improving the performance of public sector organizations at the centre of its concerns. This article outlines the key tenets of public management, explains its role in rolling out effective change and discusses the importance of fostering public management skills among civil servants.