Finding a role for design-oriented practice in strategic public management: a conceptual engineering approach

This chapter explores the definitional statements about strategic public management as such. (1) Strategic public management is a theory within the policy sciences that is specifically concerned with implementing policy interventions. (2) Strategic public management is a theory within the management field that is specifically concerned with public organizations. (3) Strategic public management is an orientation within the public administration field that is specifically concerned with public managers creating public value. (4) The chapter goes on to argue for a view that sees strategic public management as a thematic approach to developing a curriculum about public management. Strategic public management is an aspect of the professional discipline of public management. Its main definitional role lies in titling this discipline’s specific type of professional practice. Strategic public management’s other definitional role is in titling the discipline’s cumulative and growing riches of professional knowledge about public organizations and their management.