The State Administration Database

Hodgson, Lesley, Catherine M. Farrell & Michael Connolly (2007):

Improving UK Public Services: A Review of the Evidence

Public Administration 2007 Vol. 85, (2) 355–382

Please note: This page may contain data in Norwegian that is not translated to English.

Type of publication:

Tidsskriftsartikkel

Link to publication:

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1467-9299.2007.00647.x

Link to review:

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9299.2007.00647.x

Number of pages:

28

Language of publication:

Engelsk

Country of publication:

UK

NSD-reference:

2753

This page was last updated:

26/9 2007

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Summary:

Over a number of years in the UK, public service improvement has been at the centre of both Conservative and Labour policy. Keen to make improvements in public services, the current Labour government is pursuing this issue more strongly than any other. This paper examines the concept of improvement and reviews the academic literature which has empirically assessed improvements in a range of public services. Drawn from over 50 studies of improvement, the evidence highlights seven determinants or improvement ‘triggers’ which have been put in place and which have had a positive effect on a public service. These include quality frameworks and public participation forums. The paper reviews the evidence and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the studies themselves. The findings of the paper indicate that, despite a political drive to improve public services, there is insufficient evidence available on ‘what works’ in bringing about improvement. The need for sustained research in this area is emphasized and conclusions are drawn on a way forward.