Origin and theoretical basis of new public management

TLDR

New Public Management is characterized by a unique mix of features linked to the behavioral‑administrative sciences, yet it does not constitute a paradigm shift in the field. The authors construct a descriptive model contrasting three internally consistent, incommensurable scientific worldviews within the behavioral‑administrative sciences. They trace NPM’s theoretical origins to a range of perspectives across these worldviews.

Abstract

The article describes the characteristics of New Public Management (NPM) and gives a cursory overview of the development of the behavioral-administrative sciences and their relation to NPM. A descriptive model of the behavioral-administrative sciences is developed that pits three internally consistent scientific worldviews that are incommensurable to each other. From this, the theoretical origins of NPM can be traced to a variety of theoretical perspectives. Although the special mix of characteristics of NPM is new, it does not represent a paradigm change. Indeed, it is improbable that there will ever be one paradigm for the behavioral-administrative sciences; and without an accepted paradigm, a paradigm change is not really possible.