Leadership for Cut-Back Management: The Use of Corporate Strategy

Abstract

F or the manager of a governmental agency faced with a real and severe cutback in resources, nothing is more central to the exercise of leadership than the definition and articulation of a new corporate strategy for that agency. What, now, are to be the principal purposes of the agency? With what policies and programs should it pursue these new purposes? How can the resources it has, and can expect to have in the future, be best mobilized and organized to achieve these purposes? Answering these questions in a coherent and realistic manner-and explaining the answers to employees, legislators, constituents, and the public-is essential for the public manager who seeks to lead an agency through a series of cutbacks and to emerge with a functioning, energetic and effective organization.