Dr Michael Howard
Honorary Lecturer
School of Humanities, Creative Ind and Social Sci (Community Welfare)
- Email:michael.howard@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:(02) 4349 4458
Career Summary
Biography
My research and teaching focus has been social and public policy. My central interest is the shift from a predominantly social democratic paradigm in economic and social policy in the post-war period (WW2-early 1980s) to a neo-liberal paradigm in the contemporary era and the impact of this on economic and social outcomes. My teaching and research has focused on policy/program development processes and the analysis of policy/program impact.
I was awarded a PhD in History at the University of Sydney in 1979 for a thesis on the growth in the economic and social role of the Commonwealth government in Australia during war and post-war reconstruction in the 1940s, with a focus on the relative contribution of Labor Ministers and senior Keynesian economists and other bureaucrats with a professional background. I subsequently produced ANU Research School publications, plus other Conference papers, based on further research on this period. During 1976-78 I worked as a local Health Education Officer in the NSW Community Health Program; in 1980 I published a monograph on this Program as part of the build-up to the Australian Community Health Association. From 1980 to 1989 I worked as a Research/Policy Analyst for the NSW Dept of Community Services, while from 1989 to 1997 I was a Research Fellow at the Public Sector Research Centre, UNSW. In this role I acted as Editor for over 60 PSRC publications and sole authored over 30 publications focused on a wide range of public sector trends associated with neo-liberalism. Prior to commencing at the University of Newcastle (Ourimbah campus) in mid 2000, my lecturing and tutoring experience was at Sydney University (Dept of Government in 1979-80; Dept of Social Work and Sociology 1998) and at UNSW (School of Social Science and Policy, 1990s).
From 2000 to 2016, I taught within the discipline/major areas of Politics and Public Policy, Community Welfare and Human Services and the Social Science (SOCS) core stream. I acted as sole lecturer and, with a few exceptions, sole tutor on 80 occasions of offer across the following 12 courses: Australian Government and Politics; Australian Public Policy and Social Outcomes; Social Policy in Australia; International Issues in Australian Politics and Foreign Policy; Globalisation and Comparative Public Policy; Policy Development, Program Management and Evaluation; Organisational Management and Social Behaviour; Introduction to Politics; Introduction to Welfare Studies; Human Rights and Social Change; Social Welfare Research Project; Business, Mass Media and Consumption.
During 2017-19 I collated and analysed official data on the use of external consultants and contractors by the national government in Australia over a thirty-year period, with further research on the Big Four accounting-consulting firms PWC, KPMG, EY and Deloitte. During this time I collaborated with academics in the UK, Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden on a jointly authored book, Policy Consulting in Comparative Perspective: Patterns, Nuances and Implications for the Contractor State, which was published by Cambridge University Press in January 2020.
During 2021-23 I have shifted away from a focus on official summary data to more qualitative sources, with the aim of documenting and assessing recurring critiques of the operations of the global management consulting firms in the pubic sector in Australia. These critiques encompass issues of cost and quality, lack of transparency and accountability, conflicts of interest in servicing public and private sector clients in the same field, and the likely adverse impact of the growth in role of these firms on the capacity and status of the in-house bureaucracy within government.
Commercialisation of the public sector, Role of consultants in public sector commercialisation, Trends in public sector expenditure and revenue, Political economy of social conditions and public policy; Factors in the rise and fall of the Keynesian mixed economy and welfare state.
Qualifications
- PhD, University of Sydney
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Sydney
Keywords
- Commercialisation and the Public Sector
- Interaction of ideas and interests in policy making
- Interaction of political economy and political sociology with political institutions
- Political Economies
- Public Policy
- Studies of Human Society
Fields of Research
Code | Description | Percentage |
---|---|---|
440709 | Public policy | 40 |
440708 | Public administration | 35 |
440712 | Social policy | 25 |
Professional Experience
Academic appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|---|
1/5/2000 - | Lecturer | University of Newcastle School of Humanities and Social Science Australia |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Book (3 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | van den Berg C, Howlett M, Migone A, Howard M, Pemer F, Gunter HM, Policy Consultancy in Comparative Perspective: Patterns, Nuances and Implications of the Contractor State, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 332 (2020) [A1] | Nova | |
1992 | Howard M, Fightback or Setback? The Hewson Proposals to Cut Public Expenditure, Public Sector Research Centre, UNSW, Kensington, Sydney, 133 (1992) | ||
1987 | Howard M, State, Business and Unions in the Restructuring of the Building Industry in Australia, 1937-1952, Dept of Political Science, RSSS, ANU, Canberra, 158 (1987) |
Chapter (4 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Howard M, ''Commercialisation'', International Encyclopaedia of Public Policy and Administration, Westwood Press, Boulder, USA 424-426 (1998) [B1] | ||
1997 | Howard M, ''Government as a Business'', Government-Business Relations: Concepts and Issues, Thomas Nelson, South Melbourne 80-100 (1997) | ||
1992 | Howard M, 'The Curtin-Chifley Governments: An Ideal Collective Capitalist State?', A Century of Social Change, Pluto Press, Leichardt NSW 2040 69-82 (1992) | ||
Show 1 more chapter |
Journal article (17 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 |
Vogelpohl A, Hurl C, Howard M, Marciano R, Purandare U, Sturdy A, 'Pandemic consulting. How private consultants leverage public crisis management', CRITICAL POLICY STUDIES, 16 371-381 (2022) [C1]
|
Nova | ||||||
2006 | Howard M, 'Are Consultants Used for Advice on Corporate Services or Programme Content? Evidence from the 'Take-off Years' in Canberra', Public Administration Today, 52-66 (2006) [C1] | Nova | ||||||
2004 | Howard M, 'Review of Braig M & Wolte S (eds) 'Common Ground or Mutual Exclusion? Women's Movements and International Relations'', Journal of Interdisciplinary Gender Studies, 9 121-123 (2004) [C3] | |||||||
Show 14 more journal articles |
Conference (20 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | Howard M, ''A Black Box? Recurring Concerns about the Rise and Entrenchment of Global Management and Other Commercial Consulting Firms in the Australian Public Sector', IPPC5 Conference, International Public Policy Association, Barcelona, July 5-9.', Barcelona (2021) | ||
2021 | Howard M, ''Leeching Public Value? Questioning the Surge to Large Commercial Consulting Firms in the Era of the APS Staff Cap', APSA Conference, Australian Political Studies Association, Sydney, September 20-22.', Macquarie University (2021) | ||
2019 | Howard MJ, ''The Structural Shift to Policy-Relevant Consulting and Contracting in Australia: Implications in the Case of the Big Four Accounting Firms', IPPA4 Conference, International Public Policy Association, Montreal, June 26-28, 2019.', Montreal (2019) | ||
2009 | Howard M, 'Technical auxiliaries or policy pushers? The international accounting firms and privatisation', Public Policy Network Conference. Abstracts, ANU, Canberra (2009) [E3] | ||
2008 | Howard M, 'Getting Bigger and Broader? Contracts and Consultancies of the International Accounting Firms for Commonwealth Agencies, 1987-2007', National Institute of Governance Seminar, Canberra, ACT (2008) [E2] | ||
2005 | Howard M, 'Income and 'Expenditure' : the Big Accounting- Consulting Firms and their Pathways of Promotion within the Political and Bureaucratic System', 'Refereed Papers' of the Australasian Political Studies Association Conference 2005, Dunedin (2005) [E1] | Nova | |
2005 | Howard M, 'Mechanisms for Promoting Income and Influence: the Accounting-Consulting Firms and their Interaction with Parties, Politicians and the Bureaucracy', Papers Presented at the Public Policy Network Conference: 'Public Policy - Values, Ideologies and Interests', University of Canberra (2005) [E2] | ||
2004 | Howard M, 'Uniquely Comprehensive?: The consulting activities of the 'Big Six' accounting firms for fourteen Commonwealth Departments 1987-93', Public Policy in Transition: Refereed Papers presented at the 2004 Public Policy Network Conference, Brisbane (2004) [E1] | Nova | |
2004 | Howard M, 'Commonwealth department consultancies: oriented to programme content or corporate services?', 'Refereed Papers' of the Australasian Political Studies Association Conference 2004, Adelaide (2004) [E1] | Nova | |
Show 17 more conferences |
Other (32 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | Howard M, ''Management Consulting Firms and Government Responses to the Pandemic in Australia: Media Coverage and Evidence from Public Sources', 8,000 word component of ('currently unpublished) six nation comparative report on 'Management Consultants and the Pandemic'. A 4,000 word summary of this report has been submitted to the Forum section of the journal Critical Policy Studies', (2021) | ||
2019 | Howard M, 'Enablers of the Neo-Liberal State? Exploring the Role of the International Accounting-Consulting Firms in Australia since the mid 1980s, Newcastle Business School Discussion Papers, 2019-1.', (2019) | ||
2019 | Howard M, 'Technocrats or Neo-Liberals?: the Thirty-Year role of the International Accounting-Consulting Firms in Privatisation, Taxation and Government Contracting in Australia. Ourimbah Staff Seminar Series, Faculty of Education and Arts, UoN, May 14.', (2019) | ||
Show 29 more others |
Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 5 |
---|---|
Total funding | $277,850 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20051 grants / $320
Annual Conference of the Australasian Political Studies Association, 28-30 September 2005$320
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor Michael Howard |
Scheme | Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2005 |
Funding Finish | 2005 |
GNo | G0185926 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20041 grants / $350
Annual Conference of the Australasian Political Studies Association, 29 Sept - 1 Oct 2004$350
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor Michael Howard |
Scheme | Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2004 |
Funding Finish | 2004 |
GNo | G0184851 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20031 grants / $180
Annual Conference of the Australian Political Studies Foundation 29/09 to 1/10/03$180
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor Michael Howard |
Scheme | Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2003 |
Funding Finish | 2003 |
GNo | G0183654 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20011 grants / $7,000
The Vanguard of Commercialisation?: The Strategic Significance of the Consulting Role of the big Five Accounting Firms at the Commonwealth Level in Australia$7,000
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor Michael Howard |
Scheme | New Staff Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2001 |
Funding Finish | 2001 |
GNo | G0181590 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
19931 grants / $270,000
'Doing More With Less: the Impact of Commercialisation and Contracting Out on Service Provision in the Public Sector in Australia$270,000
Funding body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
Funding body | ARC (Australian Research Council) |
---|---|
Project Team | M. Howard |
Scheme | Collaborative Research Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 1993 |
Funding Finish | 1995 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Aust Competitive - Commonwealth |
Category | 1CS |
UON | N |
Research Supervision
Number of supervisions
Current Supervision
Commenced | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Honours | Individualised Funding for Clients with Intellectual Disability: A Hunter Region Case Study of the NDIS | Welfare Studies, University of Newcastle | Sole Supervisor |
Past Supervision
Year | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | PhD | Political Influence, Appointments and Public Sector Management Reform in Kenya, 1963 - 2014 | PhD (Sociology & Anthropology), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
2010 | Honours | The Impact of the 2005 Welfare to Work Act on People with Disabilities | Policy Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle | Sole Supervisor |
2009 | Honours | A Return to Interventionism? An Analysis of Manufacturing Policy under the Rudd Labor Government 2007-2009 | Politic Science & Policy Studs, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle | Sole Supervisor |
2008 | Honours | Deserving or Undeserving? The Howard Government's Approach to Disability | Politic Science & Policy Studs, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle | Sole Supervisor |
2007 | Honours | For-Profit Organisations in the Community Services Industry: Exploring their Context, Growth and Differences with Not-for-Profit Organisations | Welfare Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle | Sole Supervisor |
2006 | Honours | From Ecologism to Social Justice? Australian Greens Population Policy 1995-2004 | Politic Science & Policy Studs, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle | Sole Supervisor |
2005 | Honours | Sexual Assault: Efforts at Prevention by the NSW Government in the Context of its Wider Response, 1977-2005 | Politic Science & Policy Studs, University of Newcastle | Sole Supervisor |
Dr Michael Howard
Position
Honorary Lecturer
School of Humanities, Creative Ind and Social Sci
College of Human and Social Futures
Focus area
Community Welfare
Contact Details
michael.howard@newcastle.edu.au | |
Phone | (02) 4349 4458 |
Fax | (02) 4348 4075 |
Office
Room | HO1.59 |
---|---|
Building | Humanities Office |
Location | Ourimbah 10 Chittaway Road Ourimbah, NSW 2258 Australia |