In terms of operations management and the public sector, Donnelly and Mackenzie
(1998) commented on how the LGMA agenda had arisen and the influence this was
exerting upon councils. They observed the tensions between local and central priorities
and the differences between a public- and private-sector outlooks. They also
highlighted that the CPA prioritisation choices were forcing councils to consider how
to “do less, better” (as one manager quoted his council’s strategic perspective on service
delivery). Principally, as turbulent change was experienced and, despite councils
having powers to amend service provision to meet their “customers” and
“stakeholders” needs, the pressures coming to bear on councils meant there was
“now a noticeable trend of councils retreating into their statutory shells, focusing on
what is required by statute, being less creative . . . ” Donnelly and Mackenzie concluded
that further research into how operations management applied to councils would be
useful, albeit the circumstances prevailing between them and the private sector were
not the same.