Should we be doing--or trying to do--everything ourselves, or might it be better to contract some tasks out to others? Could they do them better and cheaper than we can? More and more state and local governments are asking these questions, and while there are many answers on the Federal level, these answers often don't apply lower down the line. Nevertheless, it is evident that contracting out is often the better strategy--but how best to go about it? What are the benefits and what are the hidden risks? Dr. O'Looney's book provides precisely the guidance that state and local managers need:...

Much current thinking about information technology in the public sector emerges from private sector experiences. While much can be transferred from sector to sector, much cannot. O'Looney provides a rare understanding of what transfers best, and the difference a good transfer can make in establishing a successfully wired government. O'Looney provides an overall strategic orientation to the challenges that public managers will face in the new age of cyberspace. He helps decision makers and executives understand what it takes to transform an agency or organization into a model of electronic...