Risk Management and Public Service Reform: Changing Governance and Funding Structures within School Education Services

This book aims to promote new Public Service Reform (PSR) understanding about social risk management by utilizing in-depth case studies of two anonymous Scottish councils responsible for providing and reforming school education services. It explains contextual issues around the reform of Scottish school education services and demonstrates how the concept of social risk can be used to improve policy making and implementation. It is targeted at practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and students in the fields of public administration, public service management, and risk management.

Format: Hardback
Length: 246 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

School education reform is a complex and ever-evolving process that takes place within the backdrop of shifting institutional structures encompassing society, economy, politics, legislation, and technology. Despite the importance of risk management in this context, particularly in the realm of social risk, there can be a lack of awareness and effective strategies for its management. This book seeks to address this issue by promoting a new understanding of social risk management in the context of public service reform (PSR).

To achieve this, the book employs in-depth case studies of two anonymous Scottish councils responsible for providing and reforming school education services. Drawing from a range of theoretical frameworks, including risk management, structuration theory, complexity leadership, and institutional theories, the book provides a comprehensive analysis of the contextual issues surrounding the reform of Scottish school education services (SSES).

One of the key findings of the book is that social risks associated with reform can be used to explain emerging threats and challenges. It illustrates how these risks can manifest in various ways, such as changes in societal attitudes, technological advancements, and economic downturns. By understanding these social risks, policymakers and practitioners can develop more effective strategies to address them and mitigate their impact on education services.

Another important aspect of the book is its exploration of agent-structure duality, which refers to the interplay between individual agents and the institutional structures they operate within. The book argues that this duality can be instrumental in the production and management of social risks. It demonstrates how agents, such as teachers, administrators, and students, can influence the development and implementation of policies and practices that either exacerbate or mitigate social risks.

Furthermore, the book showcases how the concept of social risk can be used to improve policy making and implementation. It provides practical insights and recommendations for policymakers and practitioners on how to identify and assess social risks, develop risk management strategies, and monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

The target audience of this book includes practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and students interested in the fields of public administration, public service management, and risk management more broadly. The book offers valuable insights and perspectives that can help inform and enhance the reform efforts in school education and other public service sectors.

In conclusion, school education reform is a dynamic process that requires a comprehensive understanding of risk management, particularly in the realm of social risk. This book aims to contribute to this understanding by promoting a new perspective on social risk management in the context of PSR. Through in-depth case studies and theoretical frameworks, the book provides valuable insights and recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and students interested in improving the quality and effectiveness of public services.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367723040