Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction : theory and practice of public sector reform / Steven Van de Walle and Sandra Groeneveld -- An institutional perspective / Johan P. Olsen -- A transformative perspective / Tom Christensen and Per Laegreid -- A principal-agent perspective / Sandra Van Thiel -- An innovation perspective / Victor Bekkers and Lars Tummers -- A change management perspective / Joris van der Voet, Ben S. Kuipers and Sandra Groeneveld -- A cultural theory perspective / Christopher Hood -- An interpretive perspective / R.A.W. Rhodes -- Reforming organizational structures / Steven Van de Walle -- Bureaucrats and politicians : reform begets reform / B. Guy Peters -- The shift toward network governance : drivers, characteristics and -- Manifestations / Erik-Hans Klijn and Joop Koppenjan -- Management of human resources : trends and variation / Sandra Groeneveld and Bram Steijn -- Public management reform and public professionalism / Mirko Noordegraaf -- Recent shifts in public financial management / Tiina Randma and Geert Bouckaert -- Public sector reform amidst societal and administrative shifts / Kim Putters -- Two varieties of administrative reform : US vs. Europe / Richard Stillman -- Becoming a student of reform / Frans-Bauke van der Meer, Christoph Reichard and Arthur Ringeling.