Understanding and Managing Public Organizations (Jossey-Bass Public Administration Series) [Hardcover]

Hal G. Rainey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 3, 1991 | ISBN-10: 1555423442 | ISBN-13: 978-1555423445 | Edition: 1st

This book offers a comprehensive integration of research on management and organizations, along with numerous real-life vignettes and examples, to provide an authoritative view of the key issues facing public organizations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The third edition of the classic text provides a comprehensive, up-to-date analysis of research on public organizations and management. Drawing on a review of the most current research about government organizations and managers, this important source offers specific suggestions for managing these challenges in today's public organizations. (Abstracts of Public Administration, 05/2008) --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

Best Book Award, Public and Nonprofit Sectors Division of the Academy of Management

"A masterful textbook, as well as an important and original contribution to the public organization theory literature. Rainey's book is the only one available that is both comprehensive in its treatment of organization theory and decidedly 'public' in its perspective . . . the book is not simply appropriate for courses on public management and organization theory, it is the best book available."
— Public Administration Review

"Comprehensive, coherent, and exceptionally thorough . . . a masterful work."
— Public Productivity and Management Review

"This book is outstanding and the best single source book available for the topics it addresses. I assign it to my Human Resources Management and Organization Theory seminars and I ensure that all my doctoral students read it for comprehensive exams."
— Patricia W. Ingraham, Distinguished Professor of Public Administration, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University

"Over the past decade, there have been only a few books that can be used in graduate courses on public organizations. Rainey's book is far and away the best of these books. I know of no other book that manages to provide really serious coverage of the scholarly literature, and at the same time provide practical lessons for public managers. It is the best out there."
— Barton Wechsler, professor and director, Truman School of Public Affairs, The University of Missouri

"A tremendous contribution to the field. Rainey's ability to synthesize huge research streams from a variety of fields such as political science, public administration, public management, public policy, business administration, management, psychology, sociology, and others is outstanding."
— Jeffrey L. Brudney, professor of public administration and codirector of the Institute for Nonprofit Organizations, The University of Georgia

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 337 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1st edition (June 3, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555423442
• ISBN-13: 978-1555423445
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,697,981 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cal State Hayward Student, March 20, 2006

By 

Tired Student "Big Dork" (Hayward, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding and Managing Public Organizations (Jossey Bass Nonprofit & Public Management Series) (Hardcover)

Used as a textbook for MPA program. Good overview of PA theories and preconceptions. Does not address the need to deconstruct social norms to focus on desired outcomes. Theory and studies are reviewed in this textbook. The chapters are short and sufficient). However, it is not completely thorough and detailed.
Will I keep it as a resource - probably.
Will I use it in the future (in daily practice) - probably not.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Understanding and Managing Public Organizations, February 21, 2006

By 

Gordon J. Brenner - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Understanding and Managing Public Organizations (Jossey Bass Nonprofit & Public Management Series) (Hardcover)

This textbook was required for my Masters of Public Administration class in Organizational Management and Change. The author did extensive research into the concepts and provides a wealth of information. He does have a tendency to preview chapters from within other chapters; this is somewhat distracting because you're never sure when you will get all the information.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Attention All Public Administrators, April 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Understanding and Managing Public Organizations (Jossey-Bass Public Administration Series) (Hardcover)

As a PA student, I realized that this text was essential to the basic understanding of Public Administration. It gives basic theoretical knowledge and analytical skills to practice contemporary public management. Each chapter builds from the next. I used this text book as one of my FIRST resources when I began the Public Administration curriculum and I found it very helpful. It helped me comprehend how to improve the overall effectiveness of governmental operations with concepts such as "value driven management". It's a winner!