Abstract
The entry discusses the strategy of designing and implementing public policies intended to promote public interests. It begins by recognizing that public interests are complex, multifaceted, ambiguous and implemented in weak selection environments. However, theories from strategic management, originally formulated to deal with private-sector issues, can illuminate the trade-offs associated with different policy options, the relationships between organization and behaviour within public agencies, and the potential gains from policies that align the interests of diverse individuals and groups. It reflects on historical lessons from different disciplines – in business, military and politics – and suggests areas for future research.
This entry was originally published on Palgrave Connect under ISBN 978-1-137-49190-9. The content has not been changed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrews, R., G.A. Boyne, J. Law, and R.M. Walker. 2011. Strategy implementation and public service performance. Administration & Society 43: 643–671.
Arrow, K.J. 1950. A difficulty in the concept of social welfare. Journal of Political Economy 58: 328–346.
Baum, J.A.C., and A.M. McGahan. 2012. Outsourcing war: Private military companies and command-and-control capabilities after the Cold War. Working paper, University of Toronto.
Cabral, S., P. Furquim, and S. Lazzarini. 2010. Private operation with public supervision: Evidence from hybrid modes of governance in prisons. Public Choice 145: 281–293.
Cabral, S., P. Furquim, and S. Lazzarini. 2013. Private entrepreneurs in public services: A longitudinal examination in outsourcing and statization of prisons. Strategic Entepreneurship Journal 7: 6–25.
Faerman, S.R., D.P. McCaffrey, and D.M. Van Slyke. 2001. Understanding inter-organizational cooperation: Public–private collaboration in regulating financial market innovation. Organization Science 12: 372–388.
Ferlie, E. 1992. The creation and evolution of quasi markets in the public sector: A problem for strategic management. Strategic Management Journal 13: 79–97.
Fortun, M., and S. Schweber. 1993. Scientists and the legacy of World War II: The case of operations research (OR). Social Studies of Science 23: 595–642.
Friedman, M. 1972. Capitalism and freedom. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Hayek, F.A. 1948. Individualism and economic order. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Kivleniece, I., and B.V. Quelin. 2012. Creating and capturing value in public–private ties: A private actor’s perspective. Academy of Management Review 37: 272–299.
Klein, P.G., J.T. Mahoney, A.M. McGahan, and C. Pitelis. 2010. Toward a theory of public entrepreneurship. European Management Review 7: 1–15.
Klein, P.G., J.T. Mahoney, A.M. McGahan, and C. Pitelis. 2012. A property rights approach for a stakeholder theory of the firm. Strategic Organization 10: 304–315.
Kramer, M., and M.E. Porter. 2011. Creating shared value. Harvard Business Review, 2–17.
Mahoney, J.T., and A.M. McGahan. 2007. The field of strategic management within the evolving science of strategic organization. Strategic Organization 5: 79–99.
Mair, J., and I. Marti. 2006. Social entrepreneurship research. Journal of World Business 41: 36–44.
Mandeville, B. 1714. The fable of the bees: Or, private vices, public benefits. London: J. Roberts.
Perry, J.L. 1988. The public–private distinction in organization theory. Academy of Management Review 13: 182–201.
Rynes, S.L., and D.L. Shapiro. 2005. Public policy and the public interest: What if we mattered more? Academy of Management Journal 48: 925–927.
Smith, Adam. 1776. An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations. London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell.
Stewart, J. 2004. The meaning of strategy in the public sector. Australian Journal of Public Administration 63: 16–21.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2016 The Author(s)
About this entry
Cite this entry
McGahan, A.M., Klein, P.G. (2016). Public Policy: Strategy in the Public Interest. In: Augier, M., Teece, D. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Strategic Management. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-94848-2_561-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-94848-2_561-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-94848-2
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Business and ManagementReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences