PEOPLE - HEARTS AND MINDS TOWARDS REBIRTH OF THE PUBLIC-SERVICE ETHIC

No country will escape the enormous forces that are now buffeting the public sector worldwide. The massive changes underway are affecting pe ople-public servants and citizens alike- and not just bottom lines. St andard approaches to dealing with change may unwittingly overlook the fact that Public Services are first and foremost ''people systems''. T he article provides a timely reminder that players in public organizat ions-senior officials, middle managers and front-line workers-experien ce change differently given their distinct perspectives and levels of authority. While responses to change may vary considerably within orga nizations, a common humanity is what ultimately unites people. As a re sult, governments that choose to ignore rather than acknowledge the hu man side of change may experience needless difficulty in bringing abou t the successful renewal of the public sector. ((C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)