The first volume of the series aims to give an outline of the state of the art and the most recent research being done on public and non profit governance at the international level (with particular emphasis in Europe). The focus of the volume is mainly on the "organizational" governance that still
remains "a neglected area of governance" both in the public and in the non-profit sector. The volume includes two groups of chapters aimed at examining the recent trends and the future directions of the public and non-profit governance research. One group of chapters addresses broad issues of how to
conceptualize and research 'governance' in public and non-profit organizations. The second group of chapters deals with recent trends of research on governance mechanisms through empirical studies, including contingency and behavioural studies on public and non-profit boards, studies on
participative governance mechanisms such as stakeholder involvement and citizens' participation and studies on governance codification.
What does strategic planning for public and non-profit purposes look like? How does strategic planning differ from other kinds of planning, and how can these different approaches be reconciled? How can strategic planning and implementation be linked effectively to create strategic management? How
can strategic management for public and non-profit purposes be tailored to fit differing circumstances, including those facing governments, public agencies, state enterprises, privatized enterprises, and non-profit organizations? What is the proper role for elected or appointed policy boards when it
comes to strategic management? How can participation by key stakeholders be managed? How should various planning tools be used in strategic planning? This selection of papers from "Long Range Planning - The International Journal of Strategic Management" provides answers to these questions by
presenting a variety of approaches to the improvement of strategic thinking and acting for all those who wish to sharpen their skills and improve their strategic planning and management efforts for public and non-profit purposes. It also describes some of the problems which can occur in the
application of what is fast becoming a standard part of the management repertoire of public and non-profit organizations.