Strategic Recreation Management

Strategic Recreation Management is a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to the fundamental principles, managerial techniques and practices in the public administration of recreational services. It covers every key facet of public management as it concerns recreational service, including organizational, operational, planning, developmental, and managerial procedures, as well as examining all the contextual factors that influence the delivery of recreation, such as political pressures, economics, social considerations, physical resources, and citizens' perception of the field and its performance. Each chapter offers illustrative case studies from the real world of recreation management, with chapters sequenced to represent the typical day-to-day challenges and issues in recreation service. Authors Jay Shivers and Joseph Halper have many years' experience of working in the recreational sector, as educators and practitioners, and the result is a textbook that provides the perfect foundation for any degree-level course in recreation management, as well as being an indispensible reference for all professionals working in recreation service.

Jay Shivers is Professor Emeritus, University of Connecticut, USA. He has been engaged in the practice and study of the field of recreational service for over 60 years and is the author of 27 major textbooks and numerous articles in refereed journals. Joseph Halper is an internationally recognized parks and recreation administrator knighted in Sweden for civic merit. He has served as the head of the largest urban park and recreation systems in the United States including New York City and Los Angeles County. His experience encompasses 35 years as an administrator and educator in this field.

Part 1: Planning, Strategy, and Policy Page 1. Strategic Management in Recreational Service 2. Planning for Strategic Management 3. From Strategic Planning to Organizational Design 4. Strategic Decisions for Policy Making 5. Leadership: The Basis for Strategic Management Part 2: Establishing Recreational Service 6. Development of Recreational Service 7. Organizing Recreational Services 8. The Manager and the Commission 9. Recreational Service Department Structure Part 3: Management Functions and Responsibilities 10. Human Resources Management for Recreational Service 11. Financial Management for Recreational Service 12. Budget Management 13. Budget Types and Formats 14. Information Technology Diffusion in Recreational Service 15. Public Relations and Management Impacts Part 4: Primary Influences on Management Practices 16. Program Practices 17. Resources for a Recreational Service System 18. Liability and Recreational Service Management 19. Infrastructure Management 20. Office and Records Management 21. Evaluation of Recreational Service