Strategy, structure and process in the public sector: A test of the miles and snow model

Rhys ANDREWS*, George A. BOYNE, Jennifer LAW, Richard M. WALKER

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal PublicationsJournal Article (refereed)peer-review

62 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We present a comprehensive empirical application of the Miles and Snow (1978) model of organizational strategy, structure and process to the public sector. We refine the model by distinguishing between strategy formulation and implementation, and applying it to 90 public service organizations. Although the empirical evidence shows that organizational strategies fit the Miles and Snow categories of prospector, defender and reactor, the relationship between these strategies and organizational structures (for example, centralization) and processes (for example, planning) is less consistent with their model. Conclusions are drawn for public management theory and practice.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)732-749
Number of pages18
JournalPublic Administration
Volume87
Issue number4
Early online date23 Nov 2009
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2009
Externally publishedYes

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