Evaluating the impact of alternative socially innovative public sector service initiatives on social cohesion (ALLIANCE): A research note

Abstract

Purpose

For many years, proponents of new public management (NPM) have been presenting it as a formula for improving the public sector through making the public sector more businesslike. However, reforms based on NPM have failed to prove that they deliver more efficient, effective and quality services for citizens. The purpose of this paper is to describe to evaluate the effect that alternative socially innovative service initiatives have in facilitating social cohesion.

Design/methodology/approach

The ALLIANCE project is designed to be conducted in two main phases. Phase one concentrates on conceptualising the concept (social cohesion and new public management) and ends with a quantitative empirical survey to comparatively measure key performance indicators for pre and post NPM initiatives. Phase two, on the other hand, is focused on identifying and simulating alternative scenarios for service delivery and qualitatively evaluating them.

Findings

This research note demonstrates the need for an empirical investigation to measure the impact of pre and post NPM initiatives on improving social cohesion.

Originality/value

Using the principles of social entrepreneurs, ALLIANCE will help to establish a better understanding of alternative socially innovative service initiatives to instil social cohesion within the diverse European societies. In this respect, ALLIANCE will facilitate the development of a key performance indicator matrix for measuring social cohesion; and improve stakeholder participation in defining and shaping alternative socially innovative service initiatives for the public sector.

Citation

El‐Haddadeh, R. and Weerakkody, V. (2012), "Evaluating the impact of alternative socially innovative public sector service initiatives on social cohesion (ALLIANCE): A research note", Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, Vol. 6 No. 3, pp. 283-299. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506161211251272