Adopting the new public management : a critical analysis of this ongoing transition

Abstract

The changeover from public administration to public management was one of the most radical changes in the field of public service delivery in the past two or three decades. During this period, markets spread across geographic and political boundaries, nee-liberal and nee-conservative Political parties took power in several Western countries, and technology delivered breakthrouqhs that changed people's lifestyles forever. These were times of drastic change, and such changes similarly left their mark on the public services. These changes led to the emergence of new ideas with regards to the carrying out of public administration and management. Nowadays, several of these ideas are collectively referred to as the New Public Management (NPM). In brief, NPM can be said to be a collection of ideas focused on making the operation of public services similar to that of private entities. The emphasis behind NPM practices is to make public entities more efficient and effective delivering better value for money (BV/VFM) as well as better quality products or services. Such goals necessitated reforms in both the organisation and the procedures within the public service, and such reforms were claimed to be a lever for the much needed improvements in public administration.