Value-oriented public management in vulnerable societies: assessing the impact of Public Value Management practices in three Caribbean countries

Abstract

Innovative public management practices can greatly benefit citizens, but often fail due to a mismatch with the societal context. Public Value Management was developed in North America and Western Europe, emphasising public leadership, stakeholder involvement, and information sharing. This article examines whether these practices advocated in resilient societies which are large, egalitarian, and high trust also work in vulnerable societies which are small, hierarchical, and low trust. The article compares management practices at 16 public utilities in 3 Caribbean societies, concluding that Public Value Management can improve outcomes when applied comprehensively. Partial implementation, however, leads to worse outcomes instead.