Strategic management in public settings: between rational, political and collaborative approaches ; Le management stratégique en milieu public : entre approches rationnelle, politique et collaborative

Abstract

While they have been experienced in public organisations for more than 30 years, strategic planning and management still raise a number of questions and doubts about their ability to improve public performance. The purpose of this article is to examine the processes for shaping the strategy in the public sphere and the type of strategic approach most suited to the characteristics of this sector. To this end, and as a first step, a theoretical analysis grid, based on the three main approaches to the strategy in the public sector, is being developed. As a second step, an exploratory case study is carried out, highlighting a complex strategic process that combines and hinges on rational, collaborative and political decision-making, as well as planned and incremental development. Comments for practitioners: this research highlights the need to combine different logic and approaches in the strategic steering of public organisations: rational logic, political logic and collaborative logic. In particular, the importance for public managers of developing skills in the development and management of inter-organisational networks and interpersonal relations was stressed. The ability to create interactions between a variety of stakeholders, both internal and external, to mobilise and direct collective intelligence towards the definition and implementation of public projects and policies is a key component of the strategic management of public organisations. ; International audience ; While they have been experienced in public organisations for more than 30 years, strategic planning and management still raise a number of questions and doubts about their ability to improve public performance. The purpose of this article is to examine the processes for shaping the strategy in the public sphere and the type of strategic approach most suited to the characteristics of this sector. To this end, and as a first step, a theoretical analysis grid, based on the three main approaches to the strategy in the public sector, is being ...