Elements of new public management

The elements of New Public Management (NPM) are a set of principles and practices that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s as a response to the perceived inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of traditional public administration. The key elements of NPM are:

  1. Decentralization: Decentralization of decision-making authority to lower levels of government or to semi-autonomous agencies.
  2. Agencification: Breaking down large, centralized bureaucracies into smaller, more autonomous agencies or "agencies" that are responsible for specific tasks or programs.
  3. Managerialism: Emphasis on managerial skills and techniques, such as strategic planning, performance measurement, and budgeting, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public organizations.
  4. Market-oriented approaches: Use of market mechanisms, such as competition, contracting, and privatization, to deliver public services and goods.
  5. Performance measurement and accountability: Use of performance indicators and other metrics to measure the effectiveness of public programs and hold public officials accountable for their performance.
  6. Customer focus: Emphasis on providing high-quality services to citizens and customers, and on meeting their needs and expectations.
  7. Flexibility and adaptability: Encouragement of flexibility and adaptability in public organizations to respond to changing circumstances and priorities.
  8. Partnerships and collaboration: Encouragement of partnerships and collaboration between public, private, and non-profit organizations to achieve common goals.
  9. Results-oriented management: Focus on achieving specific results and outcomes, rather than just managing processes and activities.
  10. Human resource management: Emphasis on developing and utilizing the skills and talents of public employees, and on creating a positive and productive work environment.
  11. Risk management: Identification and management of risks and uncertainties in public programs and services.
  12. Citizen participation: Encouragement of citizen participation and engagement in public decision-making processes.
  13. Transparency and openness: Emphasis on transparency and openness in public decision-making and operations.
  14. E-government: Use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public services and to enhance citizen participation.
  15. Public-private partnerships: Collaboration between public and private organizations to deliver public services and goods.

These elements of NPM are not mutually exclusive, and many public organizations have implemented a combination of these principles and practices to achieve their goals and improve their performance.