ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes an analytical framework by which public management research and practice can address the challenges faced by governance systems in striving to adapt to social and economic changes in an increasingly volatile world. In particular, the chapter draws from the new institutionalism literature in organization theory to advance our understanding of strategic forecasting as a tool for public managers who are seeking to adapt to structural transformations. Strategic forecasting serves several essential functions of public management: it provides the anticipatory function of identifying emerging social and economic problems; it contributes to the formation of sound public policy; it guides the use and management of scarce administrative resources; and it provides a basis for adjudicating conflicting priorities or values during policy making (Bowman 2011).
