Conclusion: Understanding Emergency Services in Austerity Conditions

This chapter summarizes the core themes explored in this volume on Critical Perspectives on the Management and Organization of Emergency Services, as part of the Routledge Critical Studies in Public Management Series. The coverage depicts substantial differences in terms of organizational and management practices across the blue-light services, but also suggests significant changes affecting the nature of work, organization, managerial scrutiny and professional identity in these services. One of the highlights of this volume is to incorporate the knowledge of both; the professional experts and academics in improving our understanding and knowledge of these important but under-researched public services. A call for further research in a thinly researched field is also made for management scholars and researchers.