A Tale of Three Cities: Organisational Change and Middle Managers in British, North American, and Japanese Urban Administrations

摘要

Recent reforms to large private firms' human resource strategies, managerial hierarchies and corporate governance are often described as 'inevitable' responses to globalisation and increasing competitive pressures. On the surface it would seem that public sector organisations are not so closely influenced by global competition as private firms. They do not have to be accountable to shareholders, they operate in highly regulated sectors (often monopolies), and direct competition is not such an important concern. But to regard public sector organisations as some kind of backward, or 'sleepy' environment occupied by safe, perhaps even over-protected, staff enjoying secure employment and steady promotion would be unrealistic. Workers and managers in many public sector organisations are facing up to severe cost-cutting measures, although substantial national and local differences exist between how these changes are carried out.