Synopses & Reviews
This book offers a new insight into leadership in the public sector:
It describes public leadership as a form of collective leadership in which leaders from a range of public, private and voluntary organizations share a common aim in improving the life of communities. It examines the current focus on public service reform and highlights the impact that performance targets have had on leadership.
The importance of the role of the individual leader is acknowledged, but it argues that this role is not to provide the answers but to ask intelligent questions in tackling wicked issues that undermine well being. The book explores the experience of reform across the sector and sets some tough challenges for government, public institutions and their leaders.
It will be of benefit to all who are interested in what the future holds for public services and prompts a different way of thinking about leadership.
Synopsis
This book is drawn from the results of five seminars this unique book draws on the four areas of public sector reform, essential features for public leaders, public leadership in action and the outline of a public leadership approach for the future. It seeks to give public leadership a firm foothold within the study of leadersip in general.
About the Author
STEPHEN BROOKES is a Senior Fellow at Manchester Business School where he specialises in leadership, public management and performance across public services. He previously served as a senior police officer in a thirty year career and immediately prior to his appointment at Manchester was a founding regional Home Office Director.
KEITH GRINT is Professor of Public Leadership and Management at Warwick Business School and was formerly Professor of Defence Leadership at Cranfield University and Leadershp Stuides at Lancaster Leadership Centre. He taught for 12 years at Oxford University and has published 14 books on leadership and related areas.
Table of Contents
Setting the Challenege for Public Leaders
PART I: PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM AND THE IMPACT ON LEADERSHIP
Central Government Reform and Leadership
Health Services Reform and Leadership
Education reform and Leadership
Police and Criminal Justice Reform and Leadership
Local Government Reform and Leadership
UK Defence Reform and Leadership
PART II: ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF PUBLIC LEADERSHIP
Keynote Chapter: What is Expected of Public Leaders?
Political Leadership
Community Leadership
Leaders as Problem Solvers
Knowledge and Capabilities of Public Leaders
Measuring the Value of Leadership Skills to Deliver Improved Performance
PART III: PUBLIC LEADERSHIP IN ACTION?
Adaptive Leadership in Drumcree
Leadership of Change Narratives: An Alternative Voice
S17 of the Crime and Disorder Act: A Missed Opportunity for Public Leadership?
Partnerships: Rhetoric or Reality?
PART IV: OUTLINING A PUBLIC LEADERSHIP APPROACH
Lessons from the Private Sector
The Role of the Third Sector in Public Leadership
Can Public Leadership be Evaluated
A Collective Public Leadership Approach for the Future