Includes bibliographical references, and index. Rainey, H. G. (2009). Understanding and managing public organizations (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Part 1: The dynamic context of public organizations -- The challenge of effective public organization and management -- Understanding the study of organizations: a historical review -- What makes public organizations distinctive -- Analyzing the environment of public organizations -- The impact of political power and public policy -- Part 2: Key dimensions of organizing and managing -- Organizational goals and effectiveness -- Formulating and achieving purpose: power, strategy, and decision making -- Organizational structure, design, technology, and information technology -- Understanding people in public organizations: values and motives -- Understanding people in public organizations: theories of work motivation and work-related attitudes -- Leadership, managerial roles, and organizational culture -- Teamwork: understanding communication and conflict in and among groups -- Part 3: Strategies for managing and improving public organizations -- Managing organizational change and development -- Advancing effective management in the public sector

"Understanding and Managing Public Organizations provides a comprehensive analysis of research and practice on public organizations and management. In this fourth edition of his award-winning best seller, Hal Rainey reviews topics including organizational goals and performance, decision making and strategy, leadership, motivation, organizational structure and design, organizational change, and others. He analyzes effective and ineffective practices, with suggestions for managing contemporary and classic challenges in public organizations, and with illustrative vignettes and examples. Carefully revised and updated, this edition of Understanding and Managing Public Organizations extends previous editions with deeper coverage of collaboration and networks, public values, public service motivation, managerial strategy, performance assessment, innovation and organizational change, and recent trends in public sector management." - From the Book.