Collaboration in Public Services: The Challenge for Evaluation

by Jenkins,Bill

• ISBN13: 9780765801838
• ISBN10: 0765801833
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-07-31
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

The International Group for Policy and Program Evaluation (Inteval) serves as a forum for scholars and practitioners of public policy to discuss ideas and developments as a community dedicated to enhancing the contribution of evaluation to government. From the group's studies has emerged a concern with the impact of public management reforms. Collaboration in Public Services examines collaboration in the delivery of public policies and identifies the challenges for policy and program evaluation.Written by a mix of academics, program managers, evaluators, and auditors, this volume explores the forms and challenges of collaboration in different national contexts. Chapter 1 introduces the notion and manifestations of collaboration and discusses emerging issues. Chapter 2 examines partnerships and networks of public service delivery. Chapter 3, drawing on Dutch and British data, reveals the Quango as both a collaborative end and means. Chapter 4 analyzes Israel's push to enhance collaboration withvoluntary organizations. Chapter 5 examines the Canadian and Danish experiences.Chapter 6 suggests that the creation of markets to improve quality has not been totally successful at least in Nordic countries. Chapter 7 suggests that traditional service values such as trust and parliamentary accountability are challenged by the complexity of collaboration, but, using illustrations from Canada and other OECD countries, argues that results-based governance can increase trust, flexibility, and empowerment. Chapter 8 demonstrates from Dutch and Canadian experiences that auditor responses to collaborative delivery tend to overlook traditional roles as guardians of accountability on behalf ofparliaments. Chapter 9 deliberates the efficacy of programs involving multiple partners. Chapter 10 discusses the lessons and challenges of evaluation and collaborative government.

Table of Contents

Foreword	vii
Preface	xi
Collaborative Government and Evaluation: The Implications of a New Policy Instrument	1	(28)
Andrew Gray
Bill Jenkins
Frans Leeuw
Networks and Partnering Arrangements: New Challenges for Evaluation and Auditing	29	(24)
John Mayne
Tom Wileman
Frans Leeuw
Quangos, Evaluation, and Accountability in Collaborative Government	53	(30)
Bill Jenkins
Frans Leeuw
Sandra Van Thiel
The Politics of Evaluating Government Collaboration with the Third Sector	83	(22)
Robert Schwartz
Collaborating for Public Service Quality: The Implications for Evaluation	105	(26)
John Mayne
Olaf Rieper
Collaboration by Contract and Pooling Resources: The Implications for Evaluation	131	(24)
Goran Arvidsson
Results-Based Governance: Collaborating for Outcomes	155	(24)
John Mayne
Auditing and Evaluating Collaborative Government: The Role of Supreme Audit Institutions	179	(28)
Marie-Louise Bemelmans-Videc
Evaluation, Accountability, and Collaboration	207	(20)
Bob Segsworth
Evaluation and Collaborative Government: Lessons and Challenges	227	(18)
Andrew Gray
Bill Jenkins
Contributors	245	(4)
Index	249