Public management perspectives

This introductory chapter aims at presenting the discipline of managing public interests and government entities (public administrations). Managing private firms and managing public administration / government entities require different approaches, tools and techniques; the goals of the two different types of institutions are different and one size does not fit all. The chapter presents the aims and values of government entities and the way public management can be beneficial to measure the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of public services. Some of the points highlighted here will also be discussed and analyzed by the following chapters (Public finance, Public financial management, Management control packages and Performance Measurement systems).