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Performance failure in the public sector

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  • Rhys Andrews
  • George A. Boyne
  • Gareth Enticott

Abstract

Central government in the UK has introduced procedures for assessing and categorizing the performance of public organizations. These procedures assume that performance is attributable to organizational decisions rather than external circumstances. This implies that mismanagement, rather than misfortune, is the primary cause of public service failure. We test this argument by developing a statistical model of the impact of internal characteristics and external constraints on service standards, using data from a range of secondary sources and a multiple informant survey in 120 English local authorities. We then apply this model to the results of the comprehensive performance assessment in English local government. The evidence shows that organizational failure is to some extent attributable to difficult circumstances (such as diverse service needs and poverty) and management characteristics (such as weak leadership and poor performance management). Thus performance failure is associated with both misfortune and mismanagement.

Suggested Citation

  • Rhys Andrews & George A. Boyne & Gareth Enticott, 2006. "Performance failure in the public sector," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(2), pages 273-296, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:pubmgr:v:8:y:2006:i:2:p:273-296
    DOI: 10.1080/14719030600587612
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Rhys Andrews & George A. Boyne & Jennifer Law & Richard M. Walker, 2012. "Strategic Management and Public Service Performance," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-0-230-34943-8, December.
    2. Valentina Beretta & Chiara Demartini & Sara Trucco, 2021. "The perceived managerial discretion: A methodological perspective," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2021(suppl. 1), pages 123-140.
    3. Giacomo DI FOGGIA, 2015. "Governance, Strategy And Innovation Of Utilities Controlled By Urban Governing Bodies: Insights For Industrial Policy," Management Research and Practice, Research Centre in Public Administration and Public Services, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 7(3), pages 5-20, September.
    4. Alexander Kalgin, 2012. "Performance management at the regional level: control and efficiency," Public Administration, National Research University Higher School of Economics, vol. 6(3), pages 35-60.
    5. Yaniv Reingewertz & Itai Beeri, 2018. "How effective is central enforcement? Evidence from convened committees in failing local authorities," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 36(2), pages 357-380, March.
    6. Miglena PENCHEVA, 2009. "Organizational Culture in Business, Public and non Profit Sectors," REVISTA DE MANAGEMENT COMPARAT INTERNATIONAL/REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 10(2), pages 367-374, May.
    7. Giacomo Di Foggia & Ugo Arrigo, 2015. "The scope of public organisations with productive functions: insights from the inefficiency of Italian local public transport," European Journal of Government and Economics, Europa Grande, vol. 4(2), pages 134-154, December.
    8. Jane Hendy & Danielle A. Tucker, 2021. "Public Sector Organizational Failure: A Study of Collective Denial in the UK National Health Service," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 172(4), pages 691-706, September.
    9. Fredrik Lindencrona & Solvig Ekblad & Runo Axelsson, 2009. "Modes of Interaction and Performance of Human Service Networks," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(2), pages 191-215, March.
    10. Saiz, Albert, 2023. "The Global Housing Affordability Crisis: Policy Options and Strategies," IZA Policy Papers 203, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Matt Andrews, 2021. "Successful Failure in Public Policy Work," CID Working Papers 402, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    12. Maria Paula Escobar & David Demeritt, 2017. "Paperwork and the decoupling of audit and animal welfare: The challenges of materiality for better regulation," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 35(1), pages 169-190, February.
    13. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Khan, Zaheer & Wood, Geoffrey, 2021. "COVID-19 and business failures: The paradoxes of experience, scale, and scope for theory and practice," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 179-184.
    14. Touati-Tliba, Mohamed, 2024. "Comparative performance of Algeria's education districts: The Influence of colonial legacy through cultural capital," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    15. Aidan R. Vining, 2016. "What Is Public Agency Strategic Analysis (PASA) and How Does It Differ from Public Policy Analysis and Firm Strategy Analysis?," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-31, December.
    16. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2014. "An integrative framework of attributions after a business failure," MPRA Paper 63384, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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