The Responsible Contract Manager: Protecting the Public Interest in an Outsourced World (Public Management and Change series)
"[An] excellent addition to the literature on contract management, as it covers the practical issues as well as the broader questions of professional ethics, accountability, and responsible governance. It will be useful for MPA students and faculty as they explore best practices in this growing area of study.... The strengths of this volume are many, but I was particularly impressed at how the authors present the realities of the political environment and the conflicting pressures on contracting professionals. This material is well developed throughout the discussions of both the practical and ethical issues." --Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly"Cohen and Eimicke provide a practical, comprehensive process overview of public agency contract management through networks of organizations and address important concerns of transparency and accountability. It is an important look at this process." --Robert Agranoff, Indiana University-Bloomington, Instituto Universitario Ortega y Gasset-Madrid"Steve Cohen and Bill Eimicke further their reputations as astute observers of government reform and innovation with this volume that tackles one of the most important -- and least appreciated -- areas of public management. Headlined outsourced failures clearly illustrate the importance of this book." --Stephen Goldsmith, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University"In today's age of permanent fiscal crisis, public agencies are under constant pressure to reduce costs and improve quality. Competitive contracting is often the fastest way to do that -- if it is managed well. This book provides a useful roadmap to success and an intelligent discussion of the pitfalls to be avoided." --David Osborne, senior partner, Public Strategies Group and coauthor ofReinventing Government