Outsourcing in Sandy Springs and Other US Cities: Insights for Other Countries
International Public Administration Review, Vol. XI, Nos. 3-4, 2013
18 Pages Posted: 18 Jul 2014
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Outsourcing in Sandy Springs and Other US Cities: Insights for Other Countries
Outsourcing in Sandy Springs and Other US Cities: Insights for Other Countries
Date Written: 2013
Abstract
This paper analyses the partnership-based outsourcing model of service transformation in USA local government, focusing on the city of Sandy Springs which became widely known for its large-scale ‘turnkey’ outsourcing of provision of its services in the mid-2000s. This city has been referred to in the literature as a special case not applicable to other countries, such as the UK, because of their very different contexts. However, there is now a public sector austerity context within which to reassess Sandy Springs’ use of turnkey outsourcing to achieve significant cost savings and improve services. The paper reports empirical research which it uses to derive insights for municipalities considering outsourcing. Those insights can help improve both policy and professional practice by outlining key issues for consideration when trying to ‘do more with less’ money.
Keywords: outsourcing, municipality, local government, public services, Sandy Springs
JEL Classification: L33
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation