Harnessing Complexity for Better Outcomes in Public and Non-Profit Services

ePDF and ePUB available Open Access under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. How can public services and social interventions create and sustain good outcomes for the populations they serve? Building on research in public health, social epidemiology and the social determinants of health, this book presents complexity theory as an alternative basis for an outcome-oriented public management praxis. It takes a critical approach towards New Public Management and provides new conceptual inroads for reappraising public management in theory and practice. It advances two practical approaches: Human Learning Systems (a model for public service reform) and Learning Partnerships (a model for research and academic engagement in complex settings). With up-to-date and extensive discussions on public service reform, this book provides practical and action-oriented guidance for a radical change of course in management and governance.

Max French is a Lecturer at Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University. Hannah Hesselgreaves is Associate Professor at Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University. Rob Wilson is Professor of Digital Business in the Faculty of Business and Law, Northumbria University. Toby Lowe is Senior Lecturer in Public Leadership and Management at Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University and Visiting Professor in Public Management at the Centre for Public Impact. Melissa Hawkins is Senior Research Assistant at Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University.