Contracting for Public Services (Hardcover, New)

Increasingly, multiple providers - public organizations, for-profit companies and non-profit organizations - are providing public services, resulting in a 'public service delivery system' consisting of a variety of different organizations. In addition, the 'contract' has gained importance as one of the key institutions linking public purchasers with service providers. Arranged in four distinct parts, this significant text covers this subject in depth, through topics, such as contractual organizational capacity, using information technology, local purchasers and global providers, and budgeting for contracted services. Illustrated with practitioner case studies and clear directives in each chapter, it enables readers to develop: a critical understanding of the nature of contracting for public services; an understanding of how to deal with service provider markets; contract management skills to enable successful planning and service evaluation; and approaches to hire, train and educate contract managers. As contractual relationships increase in importance, their management has become a core task for successful public managers. today, this key resource will improve readers' understanding, develop their latent skills and provide the up-to-date knowledge required to succeed in this evolving field.