The New Synthesis of Public Administration Fieldbook

Book excerpt: "NS is a conceptual framework that resonates with practitioners, but it is also a tool that can be used to expand the range of options open to government and bring coherence to problem solving and decision making. In the hands of practitioners, NS was becoming a process of discovery to create solutions to problems of concern to society and produce results of increasing public value. Chapter 1 explores what is different about serving in the 21st century compared to the previous century. Periodically, changes come about that transform the world we live in, and in the process, transform the role of government. This chapter argues that we live in such a time. Chapter 2 posits that conventional thinking about public administration and current practices are insufficient to guide the actions and decisions of government in a world characterized by deep uncertainty. Chapter 3 introduces the NS Framework and its concepts. The framework brings together the role played by government, multiple agents in society and citizens in a way that opens up a vast range of choices to government in its search for solutions to real life challenges. The framework offers a dynamic perspective of public administration where governments are able to learn, adapt to changing needs and circumstances, and co-evolve with society. Part II is an introduction to NS as an applied process of discovery. It describes the steps that public sector leaders have found most useful for discovering pathways to a better future. Chapter 4, 5, 6 and 7 present what has been learned from the practitioners who have used the NS Framework to lead public sector transformation initiatives. The NS Framework does not provide answers; it opens up new lines of inquiry and integrates findings in ways that generate coherent narratives of change. A number of consequences flow from a dynamic view of the role of government in society. This includes an adaptive view of the interaction between the public, private and civic spheres of life in society, a deeper appreciation of the importance of civic results and the role of citizens in building governable societies. The way we think about government or democratic governance influences the actions that will be taken for their improvement, and what results will be achieved. Part III poses difficult yet fundamental questions concerning how to re-conceptualise the responsibilities of the State in the 21st century. Chapter 8 broadens the conversation about public innovation. Chapter 9 reframes the discussion on public sector leadership, and Chapter 10 opens a conversation on the need to re-think, re-frame and re-invent the functioning of modern democratic societies. The book includes four case studies from four different countries that exemplify NS concepts in practice. Each of the cases highlights a dynamic process of discovery focussing on public purpose, building on the strength of others and empowering citizens as problem solvers. Appendix A examines the transformation of Singapore's prisons from correctional facilities to centres contributing to the successful reintegration of ex-offenders. Appendix B provides an example of leveraging to improve care to children with complex diseases in Canada. Appendix C explores how co-creation and co-production were used to respond to challenges facing elder care in Fredericia, Denmark. Appendix D provides an account of the Helsinki Cleaning Day initiative and how self-organisation with support from other actors, including the public sector, can spark new ways of doing things."--