This article argues that more systematic attention needs to be given to academic advice to managers and policy-makers. It explores the third world of academic public management - the giving of advice by academics to politicians and public servants. It first focuses on the question of what kind...

<title>Abstract</title> Beginning with the example of the National Health Service, this article analyses the phenomenon of very rapid, repeated re-structuring in UK public services. It asks, first, how far the unceasing reorganizations in healthcare are a unique case; second, how such serial changes can be...

<title>Abstract</title> This article examines the phenomenon of ‘magic’ concepts -- those key terms which seem to be pervasive among both academics and practitioners. Within that category our focus is on ‘governance’, ‘accountability’ and ‘networks’. Our prime purpose is to map their meanings...

<title/> This article argues that more systematic attention needs to be given to academic advice to managers and policy-makers. It explores the ‘third world’ of academic public management—the giving of advice by academics to politicians and public servants. It first focuses on the question of what...

This paper addresses some fundamental questions concerning the nature of knowledge about public management reform, and particularly its transferability between countries and contexts. It's main point will be that knowledge of what works and what does not tends to be heavily...