THE EVOLUTION OF MANAGEMENT IN UK LOCAL-GOVERNMENT - REFLECTIONS ON THE CREATION OF A COMPETENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

This article presents evidence from a case study of the implementation of a new management development system in a major local authority. Th e adoption of a competence-based management system is described, illus trating that there was great scope for adopting an explicitly 'generic ' and managerialist model of management. It is clear that such a manag erialist framework was not adopted The explanation for the retention o f a distinctive public management identity lies in the influence of bo th objective and subjective factors, the nature of the management role in local government, and the influence of the stakeholders who partic ipated in creating the programme. The evolution of management developm ent was an opportunity to identify and negotiate a new consensus about distinctive public management in local government. The implications o f this analysis for evaluating the robustness of public sector managem ent in the past and present, and lessons for the future evolution of m anagement in local government, are considered.