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Robert Gordon University

Improving public sector management training in Scotland.

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This thesis is the first analysis of the situation and operation of public sector management training in Scotland. Since 1979 the delivery modes of public services have changed dramatically through reforms initiated by central government. Reforms have closely reflected practice in the private sector which has ideologically been viewed as superior to practice in the public sector. The environment in which public organisations must operate has been transformed. Changes have resulted in a requirement for new and advanced management skills and processes for public managers to operate successfully in the changing operating environment and thus the training of managers has taken on a new significance for public organisations. Yet little is known about the use, operation, and effectiveness of management training in public organisations and little attention has been afforded to the subject of such training in academic and practitioner literature. As a result there is a dearth of information about the significance that management training has in practice for public organisations. This thesis seeks to redress this imbalance through an analysis of management training provision in public organisations which draws heavily on information gathered through primary research in six in-depth case studies. The thesis provides an analysis of the quantity and quality of management training provision, the factors that have influenced these levels, organisation management training needs, comparison of management training provision against needs, identification of management training shortfall and factors which may be significant in producing shortfall in management training. The analysis concludes with a prescription for an ideal internal operating environment in public sector organisations to facilitate management training most likely to meet the desired ends of training for public organisations.

Degree

thesis:*
Grantor dc:publisher.institution
Robert Gordon University
Year dc:date.issued
1995

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • McMillan, Janice M.A.
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • J. Stringer and P. Williamson

Subjects

dc:subject × 6

Rights

Language dc:language
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Identifier
oai:rgu-repository.worktribe.com:2807485
https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-2807485
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:rgu-repository.worktribe.com:2807485

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Robert Gordon University
Base URL
rgu-repository.worktribe.com/oaiprovider
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

McMillan, Janice M.A.. Improving public sector management training in Scotland.. Robert Gordon University, 1995. https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/2807485/1/MCMILLAN%201995%20Improving%20public%20sector%20management