Includes bibliographical references (p. [261]-270) and index.

Pt. I. Organising without certainty. 1. Government in the fog. 2. Getting the design of Government 'right': looking for the philosophers' stone. 3. Understanding organisations: the battle of beliefs. 4. Co-ordination by political clout: the 'strength at the centre' argument. 5. 'Next Steps' into the fog. 6. Public and private: boxes or mirrors? -- Pt. II. Accountability without certainty. 7. Collective ministerial responsibility: a prime ministerial strength? 8. Individual ministerial responsibility: qualified to death? 9. Administration and the law: tinkering or transformation?

There is a great gap between the principles of public administration in Britain and the way in which policies are actually implemented. Grant Jordan explains and discusses the basic principles and theories before going on to show how in practice Governments tend to make up policy as they go along. Teachers and students of Public Policy and Public Administration will welcome the new approach of this text, which combines an analysis of theory and practice with discussions on recent developments.