Rethinking Governance in Public Service Outsourcing: Private Delivery in Sustainable Ownership

The book offers an analysis of challenges in public service outsourcing and proposes a governance mechanism to avoid failure in the future, supporting firms that are independently and inclusively governed and use profit to pursue purpose to improve public services and wider economic organisation. It examines how barriers to implementing this idea within the existing legal framework for public procurement may be addressed and formulates actionable policy proposals.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 19 July 2024
Publisher: Bristol University Press

Public service outsourcing presents numerous challenges that must be addressed to ensure successful outcomes. This book provides a comprehensive analysis of these challenges and offers valuable insights into how to avoid failure in the future. One of the key findings of the book is that outsourcing public services can lead to the creation of less extractive and more sustainable corporate organizations that are oriented towards a productive purpose beyond maximizing shareholder value. This approach can improve both public services and the wider economic organization. However, implementing this idea within the existing legal framework for public procurement can be challenging. The book identifies several barriers to this implementation and formulates actionable policy proposals to address them.

One of the main barriers to outsourcing public services is the lack of transparency and accountability in the procurement process. This can lead to corruption, waste, and inefficiency, which can ultimately harm the public. The book proposes a governance mechanism that would involve independent oversight and regulation of the procurement process. This mechanism would ensure that contracts are awarded to the most qualified and cost-effective firms, and that the public is fully informed about the terms of the contract.

Another barrier to outsourcing public services is the risk of job loss. Many public sector jobs are vulnerable to outsourcing, and this can have a significant impact on the local economy. The book proposes a policy that would provide job training and support to workers who are affected by outsourcing. This policy would help to ensure that workers are able to find new jobs and that the local economy is not negatively impacted.

In addition to these barriers, outsourcing public services can also have negative impacts on the quality of services. This can be due to the fact that private firms may have different priorities than public sector organizations. The book proposes a policy that would require private firms to meet certain quality standards and to be held accountable for their performance.

To address these challenges, the book proposes a governance mechanism that would involve independent oversight and regulation of the procurement process, job training and support for workers who are affected by outsourcing, and quality standards for private firms. The book also formulates actionable policy proposals to address these barriers.

One of the key policy proposals in the book is the creation of a public-private partnership (PPP) model. PPPs involve the collaboration of public and private sector organizations to deliver public services. This model has been successful in many countries, and it can provide a number of benefits, including increased efficiency, improved quality, and reduced costs.

However, PPPs can also be complex and difficult to implement. The book proposes a policy that would provide guidance and support to public and private sector organizations in implementing PPPs. This policy would include a framework for selecting PPP projects, a process for negotiating contracts, and a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating PPP projects.

Another policy proposal in the book is the use of public-private partnerships to deliver social services. Social services are essential to the well-being of individuals and communities, and they are often underfunded and understaffed. PPPs can provide a solution to this problem by bringing together public and private sector organizations to deliver services that are more efficient and effective.

However, PPPs can also be controversial. Some people argue that PPPs are a form of privatization, which can lead to the privatization of public services and the loss of public control over these services. The book proposes a policy that would address these concerns by ensuring that PPPs are transparent and accountable, and that the public has a say in the decision-making process.

In addition to these policy proposals, the book also provides a number of case studies that illustrate the success of outsourcing public services. These case studies include the outsourcing of healthcare services in the United States, the outsourcing of education services in the United Kingdom, and the outsourcing of transportation services in the United States.

Overall, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of challenges in public service outsourcing and offers valuable insights into how to avoid failure in the future. The book proposes a governance mechanism that would involve independent oversight and regulation of the procurement process, job training and support for workers who are affected by outsourcing, and quality standards for private firms. The book also formulates actionable policy proposals to address these barriers. By implementing these policies, we can ensure that public services are delivered efficiently, effectively, and sustainably, and that the wider economic organization is improved.

Weight: 314g
Dimension: 209 x 134 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529212846