New Public Management

Term Paper # 100240

Canadian Studies > Government and Government Policy
Public Administration

A discussion of G. Inwood's "Understanding Canadian Public Administration", which examines Canada's new public management (NPM) model.

909 words () | 2 sources | APA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper examines G. Inwood's "Understanding Canadian Public Administration", which explores whether the model of new public management will suit the Canadian environment. The paper looks at Inwood's discussion regarding whether Canadian citizens will support these changes. The paper shows how in terms of Inwood's arguments, the new public management model is justified; Inwood maintains that even if Canadians object to these policy changes, in the end they will accept it.

Outline:
Introduction
What Has Gone Before
Usual Responses
Concluding Remarks

From the Paper:

"What is being called New Public Management (NPM) is possibly long overdue in Canada but will have results that are unpredictable. In view of a changed global and national environment since the early 1990s, NPM is needed, as attempted in other countries moving towards neo-liberal finance and planning. However, it is unclear as to whether it will suit the unique Canadian environment. The study of Public Administration has always made much of three goals in effectiveness, efficiency and accountability. NPM, by borrowing from private sector, corporate ideals of management is claimed to promise greater effectiveness and efficiency in terms of delivering services to citizens who are conceptualized as clients. Accountability is particularly stressed. (See Inwood:2004: Ch 12) Nevertheless, NPM also means a shift from Canada's 'generalist' public service to a more 'technical' model as found for many years in the United States. This means a large but probably positive change in an immense, varied country."

Sample of Sources Used:

Inwood, G. (2004). Understanding Canadian Public Administration - an Introduction to Theory and Practice. 2nd edition. Toronto: Pearson.
Stark, A. (2002). What is the New Public Management? Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. 12: 137-141.