ABSTRACT
Managing in today’s public institutions can be a very complex affair. In this complex environment, it is a conceit, we believe, to expect that by simply considering more data and obtaining more information about evidence-based management (EBMgt) practices, including allegedly best practices, managers will effect wiser or more successful management practices. Here we consider EBMgt from the perspective of scholar-practitioners and outline concerns from both the theoretical and practical domains. Additionally, we detail a practical approach that managers can take to pursue the worthy aims of EBMgt that takes a holistic, and we believe realistic, view of the complexity and challenges of managing in modern public organizations.
