- 1. Characterizing the "new public management". - 1.1 Introduction. - 1.2 Key recent changes in UK public services. - 1.3 The new public management as rising bodies of managerial throught. - 1.4 The new public management in international perspective. - 1.5 Some underlying themes and questions. - 1.6 Approach and methods. - 1.7 Plan of the book. - 2. Public sector restructuring. - 2.1 Introduction. - 2.2 Theoretical developments. - 2.3 Public sector context. - 2.4 Evidence of system-wide change. - 2.5 Conclusion-moving to system-wide change? - 3. The creation and evolution of quasi-markets. - 3.1 Introduction: the new public management and quasi-markets. - 3.2 The quasi-market phenomenon. - 3.3 Characterizing quasi-markets - some theoretical issues. - 3.4 The creation and evolution of quasi-markets - some empirical evidence from the NHS. - 3.5 Conclusions and discussion. - 4. A process of transformational change? - 4.1 From change to transformation. - 4.2 Multilayered changes within organizations. - 4.3 Changes to the technology and delivery systems. - 4.4 Reconfiguration of individual roles and power relations. - 4.5 Changes to the cultures of the organizations. - 5. Board composition: managers and "magistrates". - 5.1 Introduction. - 5.2 The growth of non-elected bodies - 5.3 The transference of private sector models to the public sector - 5.4 From authorities to boards - 6. The board: from "rubber stamp" to strategy-maker? - 6.1 Introduction. - 6.2 Private sector boards - 6.3 Strategy formulation as a process - 6.4 Board process - 7. Professionals and the new public management. - 7.1 Themes and issue. - 7.2 Key concepts in relation to professionalism. - 7.3 The impact of competition and a quasi-market on professionals. - 7.4 The changing management processes and the impact on professionals. - 7.5 Induvidual professionals, professional managers, and hybrids. - 8. The question of accountability: new forms or a democratic deficit? - 8.1 Introduction. - 8.2 The growing debate. - 8.3 Alternative models of accountability. - 8.4 Purchasing organizations - will they really develop as tribunes of the people? - 8.5 Concluding discussion - the need for more robust models of accountability. - 9. Concluding discussion. - 9.1 Introduction. - 9.2 Recapitulation of the key themes. - 9.3 Novel concepts and findings. - 9.4 The new public management in theory. - 9.5 Future research agenda.