The book contains a wealth of detailed and fascinating case studies of New Public Management (NPM) in practice in the UK, exploring the enactment of NPM in its specific organizational contexts. A range of public services are covered including local government, education, social work and the police, with particular attention paid to the National Health Service. The editors introduce the case studies through an examination of the 'hydra-headed' nature of NPM, its variability between sectors and its contested character. This provides themes that are developed within the case studies, where, in varying organizational contexts, the meaning of NPM is negotiated and its impact on those working in the organization is explored. The book points to the complex, fluid and negotiated character of NPM, as well as its centrality in reconfiguring occupational identities and relations within public service organizations.

'...a timely and intriguing critical analysis of the nature of the New Public Management. This book should be of great interest to both academics studying the New Public Management and those working in the wide variety of settings in the public sector that this text covers.' Professor Mike Saks, University of Lincoln, UK '...The publication of this book, after twenty years of experience with the New Public Management is timely. This is a wide-ranging study of a range of public sector services and has extraordinary value...It is full of reports of detailed research which consider the impact of the new public management in particular areas of provision...It deserves to be widely read by students and public sector professionals.' Professor Stephen Ackroyd, Lancaster University Management School, UK '...presents a series of illuminating case studies and provides a detailed analysis of the experiences of public service managers and professionals. The book will be of particular interest to students and academics studying aspects of New Public Management and will also be of interest to professionals and managers working within the public sector...The book incorporates a particularly important section on the NHS which provides an insight into the variable nature of NPM.' Local Government Studies '...useful insight is provided to challenges and implications from both a program delivery perspective as well as from broader equity and management perspectives...a broad yet insightful coverage of the application of NPM is provided...' Public Administration Today

Mike Dent is Professor of Health Care Organisation at Staffordshire University. John Chandler is Principal Lecturer and Jim Barry is Professor of Gender and Organisation, both at the University of East London Business School.