A public management approach to the NHS

Area of Science:

• Public Administration
• Management Science

Background:

• Contrasting perspectives of business management and public administration in the public sector.
• Current government's emphasis on the 'Five Es' (economy, efficiency, effectiveness, excellence, enterprise) in public sector management.
• Critique of a narrow, short-term focus on economy and efficiency over effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the public management perspective within the public sector.
• To evaluate the prevailing business management approach and its impact.
• To explore the principles of the public administration approach.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of management perspectives.
• Examination of government policy and its implications.
• Literature review of public administration and business management theories.

Main Results:

• The Conservative government has promoted a business management model in public services.
• This approach prioritizes economy and efficiency, potentially at the expense of effectiveness.
• The public administration perspective highlights unique normative differences between public and private sectors.

Conclusions:

• An emerging public management perspective seeks to integrate business management insights with public administration values.
• This integrated approach aims for a more balanced and normatively grounded public sector management.
• Reconciling instrumental efficiency with public service values is crucial for effective governance.