As academics from a public institution, our principal concern is for objective and unbiased research, which we believe, cannot move forward until more and better data are available. We hold no a priori ideological bent on these issues. Many government entities and private firms have gained vast experience in these efforts, changing existing and creating whole new industries in the process. Many private sector firms are equally in need of such information to better serve their public clients, benchmark their own performance, and better formulate effective strategies for competing in rapidly changing markets. Careful academic research is extremely limited because of the paucity of objective data.
Objective data precedes reliable evaluation of successful efforts.
At Temple University we have experienced large numbers of inquiries from small municipalities and counties throughout the country who would like to know about such experiences and the names of possible vendors. Our limited resources and lack of sufficient information preclude us from assisting them. Ease of Internet access makes collecting, updating and widely disseminating data on these issues far more efficient and practical than ever before, with far reaching benefits to government, private partners, and academic researchers. Eight faculty members in our School of Business and management are involved in researching privatization issues, and teaching courses in this area. Our Institute for Survey Research, which is nationally acclaimed, will assist in surveying efforts.