Australian higher education transformed: from central coordination to control

The chapter continues our work in the area of ‘New Public Management’ (for example, see Guthrie et al., 1990; 1997; 1999; 2005; Guthrie and Humphrey, 1996; Olson et al., 1998; 2001; Jones et al., 2001) with a particular focus on the Australian Higher Education System (AHES). The powerful effects of New Public Management (NPM) and New Public Financial Management (NPFM) reforms have been established over the past decade, with significant potential to impact further upon the scope, nature, provision and management of public services. The work of Guthrie and Humphrey (1996) and Guthrie et al. (1990; 1997; 1999) discusses the need to subject these reforms, both their practical application and the forces motivating them, to detailed empirical research and analysis at individual, organizational, national and international levels