Contracts, Performance Measurement and Accountability in the Public Sector (Intl Inst of Administrative Sciences Monographs, Vol 25) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1586034960 ISBN 13: 9781586034962

Verlag: IOS Press,US, 2005

Inhaltsangabe

In 11 articles, many of which were presented to panels of the permanent study group of the European Group of Public Administration on Contracturalization in the Public Sector in September 2001 and September 2002, contributors seek a better understanding of the relationships between contracts, performance-based management, and audit and accountability in governance and the public sector. Their individual opinions vary on some of the elements, particularly in determining indicators of performance. Some believe that setting standards leads to measurable results and improves the quality of decision-making, while others argue that it measures government in a different way from how government generally operates, and that it impedes innovation. Topics include whether growth or performance measurement is a help or hindrance, UK samples of performance targets, evaluation and governance of public services, risk management, the role of the ombudsman, an example from Switzerland, and accountabilities in several different scenarios. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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This book addresses issues to do with public accountability, audit and performance measurement, that are both highly topical and of crucial importance to the theory and practice of public administration in an era of contractualized public management. The literature on public sector contracting – covering both ‘hard’ agreements (ones that are legally enforceable) and ‘soft’ agreements (enforced by negotiation and mutual trust) - has been growing for some time, and the present book adds a primarily European perspective on contracting, performance-based management and accountability. One important aspect of this study is its recognition that those responsible for monitoring public services, and holding them to account, have had - to an increasing extent - to reconcile tensions between, on the one hand, the need for strong oversight and, on the other, the encouragement of innovation and risk in an increasingly competitive and entrepreneurial public service culture.

Following an introductory overview by the three editors, the book is in three parts. The first part deals with the theory and practice of performance measurement and evaluation; the second part provides a series of specific case studies of audit and accountability in a variety of countries and contexts; the third part offers some wider, cross-cutting perspectives. Based on the work of the EGPA permanent study group on the history of contractualization, Contracts, Performance Measurement and Accountability in the Public Sector draws upon the wide expertise and research interests of academics and practitioners from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden and the USA.

Aus dem Klappentext

This book addresses issues to do with public accountability, audit and performance measurement, that are both highly topical and of crucial importance to the theory and practice of public administration in an era of contractualized public management. The literature on public sector contracting covering both hard agreements (ones that are legally enforceable) and soft agreements (enforced by negotiation and mutual trust) - has been growing for some time, and the present book adds a primarily European perspective on contracting, performance-based management and accountability. One important aspect of this study is its recognition that those responsible for monitoring public services, and holding them to account, have had - to an increasing extent - to reconcile tensions between, on the one hand, the need for strong oversight and, on the other, the encouragement of innovation and risk in an increasingly competitive and entrepreneurial public service culture.

Following an introductory overview by the three editors, the book is in three parts. The first part deals with the theory and practice of performance measurement and evaluation; the second part provides a series of specific case studies of audit and accountability in a variety of countries and contexts; the third part offers some wider, cross-cutting perspectives. Based on the work of the EGPA permanent study group on the history of contractualization, Contracts, Performance Measurement and Accountability in the Public Sector draws upon the wide expertise and research interests of academics and practitioners from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden and the USA.

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: IOS Press,US
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2005
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1586034960
• ISBN 13: 9781586034962
• Einband: Gebundene Ausgabe
• Anzahl der Seiten: 185
• Herausgeber: Drewry Gavin, Greve Carsten, Tanquerel Thierry
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar