Public Management : Origins, Evolutionary Paths, and Multidimensional Perspectives on a Concept in Transformation

Abstract

This article presents a critical and analytical literature review of public management and public service delivery, with the objective of elucidating the conceptual foundations, theoretical frameworks, and historical dynamics that have shaped this field of research and practice. Public management is not conceptualized as a mere transposition of private sector management techniques into the public realm. Rather, it constitutes a coherent ensemble of methods, practices, and paradigms shaped by the distinctive imperatives of public governance—namely, democratic legitimacy, public value creation, and institutional complexity. The analysis delineates the key distinctions between public administration, public governance, and public management, with particular emphasis on the strategic, cross-functional character of the latter. The emergence of New Public Management (NPM) is examined as a paradigmatic shift of considerable significance, having introduced the precepts of performance, results orientation, and accountability into the management of public affairs. Concurrently, the limitations of this paradigm are critically assessed, specifically its propensity for over‑standardization, depoliticization, and the attendant risk of state retrenchment. The article subsequently explores the trajectory toward more balanced models—namely post‑NPM, governance, and results‑based management—which accommodate the specificities of public sector contexts, including actor pluralism, coordination challenges, and imperatives for innovation. In conclusion, the study advocates for an integrated conception of public management as a strategic lever for modernization, regulatory effectiveness, and public value creation within a transforming state.