Skip to main content
Log in

Change Communication in Public Sector Cutback Management

  • Published:
Public Organization Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Budget cuts in public sector organizations create additional strain for employees, often contributing to uncertainty, rumors, and low morale. This study examines the dynamics of communicating about organizational changes in public human service organizations during the cutbacks of the Great Recession from 2008 to 2013. Drawing from in-depth interviews of 45 senior managers in eleven San Francisco Bay Area county public human service agencies, the findings focus on perceived employee responses to change, specific change communication strategies utilized, and how these were shaped by internal and external factors. The study concludes with implications for future practice and research during significant budget reductions in public human service organizations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Genevieve Graaf.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Graaf, G., Hengeveld-Bidmon, E., Carnochan, S. et al. Change Communication in Public Sector Cutback Management. Public Organiz Rev 19, 453–472 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-018-0408-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-018-0408-8

Keywords

Navigation