TY - JOUR
T1 - Strategic Improvement or Service Measures? Best Value in UK Local Government
AU - Mcadam, Rodney
AU - Maguire, Mairead
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2004/10
Y1 - 2004/10
N2 - In 1997 Best Value was introduced as part of the UK government's policy to modernise local government. The Local Government Act 1999, more commonly known as “Best Value”, subsequently came into effect on 1 April 2000. Since then, there have been a number of studies on the effectiveness of Best Value at service delivery level. However, there is a paucity of research studies, which investigate the strategic impact of Best Value in local government organisations. The aim of this article is to examine the introduction of Best Value at a strategic level by using a case organisation analysis. The research reveals that the strategic approach taken to the Best Value planning process contributed to an improvement in services. Moreover, the strategic approach led to more consistent action, enabling customers and other stakeholders of the case organisation to experience the longitudinal benefits of Best Value. Thus, the need for over-reliance on service delivery to demonstrate value was reduced.
AB - In 1997 Best Value was introduced as part of the UK government's policy to modernise local government. The Local Government Act 1999, more commonly known as “Best Value”, subsequently came into effect on 1 April 2000. Since then, there have been a number of studies on the effectiveness of Best Value at service delivery level. However, there is a paucity of research studies, which investigate the strategic impact of Best Value in local government organisations. The aim of this article is to examine the introduction of Best Value at a strategic level by using a case organisation analysis. The research reveals that the strategic approach taken to the Best Value planning process contributed to an improvement in services. Moreover, the strategic approach led to more consistent action, enabling customers and other stakeholders of the case organisation to experience the longitudinal benefits of Best Value. Thus, the need for over-reliance on service delivery to demonstrate value was reduced.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84996212327&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/095207670401900404
DO - 10.1177/095207670401900404
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84996212327
VL - 19
SP - 57
EP - 81
JO - Public Policy and Administration
JF - Public Policy and Administration
SN - 0952-0767
IS - 4
ER -