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Rethinking the commissioning of consultants for enhancing government policy capacity

Author

Listed:
  • Catherine Althaus

    (UNSW Canberra)

  • Lisa Carson

    (UNSW Canberra)

  • Ken Smith

    (ANZSOG)

Abstract

The increasing international use of consulting firms in public administration has attracted warnings against diminishing policy capability, accountability and transparency. Whilst significant debates and multiple tensions exist, this article introduces an innovative Australian model which provides scope to harness and balance the strengths of the contributions of consultants and consultancy firms to improve government policy capacity. We argue that advantages exist for engaging Tier 1 consultants provided the conditions are right. Moving past binary debates about whether or not consultants should be used in the public sector, we call for a more nuanced understanding and discussion about how to better leverage expertise, comparative analysis and contestability. Using Wu et al.’s (Policy Soc 34(3–4):165–171, 2015) framework, our pragmatic and sophisticated approach shifts theory and practice on the use of consultants to ensure clarity in the rationale of seeking external advice in order to build or improve policy capacity.

Suggested Citation

  • Catherine Althaus & Lisa Carson & Ken Smith, 2021. "Rethinking the commissioning of consultants for enhancing government policy capacity," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 54(4), pages 867-889, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:policy:v:54:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s11077-021-09441-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11077-021-09441-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robin Fincham, 1999. "The Consultant–Client Relationship: Critical Perspectives on the Management of Organizational Change," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3), pages 335-351, May.
    2. Saint-Martin, Denis, 2004. "Building the New Managerialist State: Consultants and the Politics of Public Sector Reform in Comparative Perspective," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199269068.
    3. Ross Beveridge, 2012. "Consultants, depoliticization and arena-shifting in the policy process: privatizing water in Berlin," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 45(1), pages 47-68, March.
    4. Momani, Bessma, 2013. "Management consultants and the United States’ public sector," Business and Politics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(3), pages 381-399, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sojeong Kim & Adam M. Wellstead & Tanya Heikkila, 2023. "Policy capacity and rise of data‐based policy innovation labs," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 40(3), pages 341-362, May.

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