ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book considers Lipsky's account of the nature of discretion in street-level bureaucracies and his description of the relationship of managers and street-level bureaucrats. It also discusses the subsequent development of a street-level bureaucracy literature that has sought to test and develop Lipsky's ideas. The book considers the street-level bureaucracy perspective in relation to arguments about the impact of managerialism within public services, with particular reference to Social Services. The domination perspective sees managers as breaking with the past and fully in control, committed to the organisation, managing practitioners as workers, and using budgets and procedures to minimise discretion. Professional discretion has re-emerged as a key issue in current social work. The book concludes by considering the contribution of the three models of discretion to the analysis of management control and worker freedom with managerialised public services.
