Editorial statement, James L. Perry; representative bureaucracy - a theoretical and empirical exposition, Kenneth J. Meier; accountability and the centrality of expectations in American public administration, Melvin J. Dubnick and Barbara S. Romzek; applying rational choice contributions to multi-organizational policy implementation, Laurence J. O'Toole Jr; towards a theory of goal ambiguity in public organizations, Hal G. Rainey; understanding strategic transformations in public organizations, Reginald Shareef; comparing civil service systems, Hans Bekke, James L. Perry, et al; integrating local participation and institutional development - a transaction cost perspective, Shui Yan Tang; management training in developing nations - a critique of strategies for improvement, Barry Bozeman.