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 organiza-
tions, and with illustrative vignettes and examples. Carefully revised and updated, this edition of Understand-
ing 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.
Praise for the Previous Editions
“The third edition of the classic text provides a comprehensive, up-to-date analysis of research on public
organizations and management. Drawing on a review of the most current research about government
organizations and managers, this important source offers specifi c suggestions for managing these
challenges in today’s public organizations.”
— Abstracts of Public Administration
“A masterful textbook, as well as an important and original contribution to the public organization theory
literature … both comprehensive in its treatment of organization theory and decidedly ‘public’ in its
perspective.”
—Public Administration Review
“A tremendous contribution to the fi eld. Rainey’s ability to synthesize research streams from a variety of
fi elds—such as political science, public administration, public policy, business administration, psychology,
sociology, and others—is outstanding.”
—Jeffrey L. Brudney, Albert A. Levin Chair of Urban Studies and Public Service, Cleveland State University
HAL G. RAINEY is Alumni Foundation Distinguished Professor at the University of Georgia. Rainey
received the 2009 Dwight Waldo Award for career achievement in public administration scholarship as
well as the 1995 Charles H. Levine Award for Excellence in Public Administration Research, Teaching,
and Public Service. The fi rst edition of Understanding and Managing Public Organizations won the Best
Book Award of the Public and Nonprofi t Division of the Academy of Management.
HAL G. RAINEY
RAINEY
4th EDITION
MANAGING
PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS
UNDERSTANDING AND
MANAGING
PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS
UNDERSTANDING AND
4th
EDITION
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PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION/
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The Instructor’s Guide for the fourth edition of Understanding and Managing Public
Organizations includes a sample syllabus, key terms and study questions for each chapter,
class exercises, and case studies, as well as chapter-by-chapter PowerPoint slideshows.
The Instructor’s Guide is available free online. If you would like to download and
print a copy of the Guide, please visit:
www.wiley.com/college/rainey
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Educational Resources for
Nonprofit and Public Management
Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofi t Organizations, 3rd Edition, by John Bryson
The Effective Public Manager, 4th Edition, by Steven Cohen et al.
Handbook of Human Resources Management in Government, 2nd Edition, by Stephen E. Condrey
The Responsible Administrator, 5th Edition, by Terry L. Cooper
Conducting a Successful Capital Campaign, Revised and Expanded Edition, by Kent E. Dove
The Public Relations Handbook for Nonprofi ts, by Arthur Feinglass
The Jossey-Bass Handbook of Nonprofi t Leadership and Management, 2nd Edition,
by Robert D. Herman
Benchmarking in the Public and Nonprofi t Sectors, 2nd Edition, by Patricia Keehley et al.
Museum Marketing and Strategy, 2nd Edition, by Neil Kotler et al.
The Ethics Challenge in Public Service, 2nd Edition, by Carol W. Lewis et al.
Working Across Boundaries, by Russell M. Linden
Designing and Planning Programs for Nonprofi t and Government Organizations,
by Edward J. Pawlak
Measuring Performance in Public and Nonprofi t Organizations, by Theodore H. Poister
Human Resources Management for Public and Nonprofi t Organizations: A Strategic
Approach, 3rd Edition, by Joan E. Pynes
Designing and Conducting Survey Research, 3rd Edition, by Louis M. Rea et al.
Making Critical Decisions, by Roberta M. Snow et al.
Hank Rosso’s Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, 2nd Edition, Eugene R. Temple, Ed.
Handbook of Practical Program Evaluation, 2nd Edition, by Joseph S. Wholey et al.
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UNDERSTANDING AND
MANAGING PUBLIC
ORGANIZATIONS
Fourth Edition
Hal G. Rainey
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