Should the APS favour system stewardship over outsourcing? Tuesday July 23, 2019 By Shannon Jenkins News The Australian Public Service must embrace the idea of strategic commissioning, according to Professor of Public Management, Janine O’Flynn. In a new academic paper, O’Flynn… Read more
Getting the work of government done Monday April 1, 2019 By Maria Katsonis Research Series The APS seeks outcomes for Australians through complex systems of organisations, rules and relationships. How the APS designs and stewards these systems matters. Research prepared… Read more
Carillion: lessons in major contractor’s predictable collapse Thursday January 18, 2018 By David Donaldson Case studies It's unsurprising a contractor would fail, given the UK's "aggressive" approach to outsourcing, thinks contracting expert Gary Sturgess. Taking the lowest bidder and ignoring the… Read more
Aggressive outsourcing undermining service quality and trust Monday April 10, 2017 By David Donaldson Features Governments wringing too many savings out of outsourced risk is threatening the commercial and political sustainability of the whole enterprise, warns one of Australia's top… Read more
Contracts and convicts: how perverse incentives created the death fleet Monday January 16, 2017 By David Donaldson Editors' Picks It might sound strange, but the tragic voyage of the second fleet, which killed 40% of the convicts on board, holds a lesson for contemporary… Read more
Passport outsourcing: multiple providers a good start Tuesday March 29, 2016 By David Donaldson Features Online passport applications could be processed by multiple firms, as DFAT gears up to replace Australia Post's face-to-face process. It might drive down costs —… Read more
Gary Sturgess: contestability with uninterrupted service Monday April 20, 2015 By Gary Sturgess Features Contestability in the public sector requires there be viable alternatives for genuine competition. That means encouraging alternate providers, or having an alternate management team. ANZSOG’s… Read more
