Policy in action
Subtitle: the challenge of service delivery
By: John Wanna, John Butcher, Benoit Freyens .
Contributors: Freyens, Benoit; Butcher, John
Publisher: UNSW Press
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Sydney
Language: eng
Number of pages: 321
ISBN-13: 9781921410727
Subjects: Policy sciences; Public administration
Description: A valuable guide to the debates and choices to be made in the delivery of public services. The authors have achieved a rare combination of a thorough and thoughtful review of the literature and strongly expressed views. Essential reading for both students and practitioners trying to make sense of the ̀service delivery state'. Norman Flynn, Director, Centre for Financial and Management Studies, University of London.

Modern governments have undergone significant change over the past 30 years. Such change has impacted on the way governments structure their organisations, deliver services and relate to their citizenry.

Policy in Action is the first book to present a cogent analysis of the history, promise and prospects of the service delivery state. Applying a unique blend of political science, applied economics and experience drawn from policy practice, the authors chart the evolution of government service delivery and examine the principal influences on, and practical expressions of, public policy formulations across a variety of domains.

The text is rich in insight, broad in scope and generously illustrated with case histories from Australia and overseas. It offers important insights on the conceptual and practical dimensions of public policy formulation, the determination of strategies for intervention, and the design and programs and services. It is an essential resouro researchers, policy practitioners and students of across a range of disciplines. --Book Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction: Policy in action; title: the challenge of service delivery and implementation; title: The transformation of the service delivery state; title: The politics of service delivery; title: Understanding the economics of service delivery; title: Choices in delivery; title: Purchasing services; title: Who is being served?; title: Program design and planning; title: Program implementation and management; title: Performance management; title: Public sector governance and networked delivery; title: The future of policy and service delivery.