Organization Theory and Public Management

Book excerpt: Organization Theory and Public Management is written for current and future public managers. Understanding organization theory helps managers at all levels define program objectives, overcome constraints, and accomplish mandated purposes. Armed with theoretical and conceptual knowledge, managers can better identify the factors that affect organizational performance, determine how these factors interrelate, and decide how best to resolve problems and attain goals. Familiarity with organization theory can facilitate fresh ways to view organizational challenges and discover new paths for pursuing change. Organization theory, supported by intuition and common sense, can be a powerful guide to action. The book approaches each organization theory school of thought on its own terms, drawing out its implications for public management as objectively as possible. Chapter 1 introduces organization theory as a field of study, chapter 2 establishes the unique context of public management, and chapter 3 presents three analytical frameworks for assessing the theories of organization covered in the twelve chapters that follow.