What Determines the Formal Versus Relational Nature of Local Government Contracting

Datos Bibliográficos

ID6404523
AutoresMeeyoung Lamothe (0000-0003-2201-9012, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA), Scott Lamothe (0009-0003-2969-7550, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA)
Año2012
Volumen48
Número3
Páginas322-353
Fecha de publicación2012-05-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaUrban Affairs Review (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1078-0874 • E-ISSN: 1552-8332
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1078087411432418
OpenAlexW2095733947
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas15
Referencias citadas50

In this article, we examine the governance structures used to manage local service delivery contracts with an eye toward two specific concerns. First, we contend that public managers likely use dual regimes in which contract writing is more formal in nature than is the management style adopted during contract implementation. We also explore the determinants of such mechanisms. We find some evidence to support our contention in that managers frequently contact and communicate with their vendors despite the presence of clearly and formally written contracts. We further find that the formal versus relational nature of written contract features is influenced by different factors (service characteristics, market conditions, vendor ownership) than is management style (reputation, management capacity, expectations of continuing relationships

Business · Contract management · Corporate governance · Dual (grammatical number · Political science · Public relations · Reputation · Service (business · Style (visual arts · Vendor · Law · Outsourcing and Supply Chain Management · Public Procurement and Policy · Public-Private Partnership Projects · Finance · Marketing