"A terrific analysis of how to procure public services. The key is not just a good contract but the building of a relationship to deal with the inevitable unknowns. The combination of conceptual discussion and case studies makes this a vital read." -- Oliver Hart, Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University , Professor, Harvard University, Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2016"Contracting for Public Value advances public management by showing, through comparative case analysis and process tracing, that authority dynamics and communication patterns matter more than rigid contracts. The authors center relational contracting-balancing formal agreements with trust, flexibility, and shared purpose. Their actionable guidance helps public managers design collaborative, learning-focused partnerships that deliver sustainable, citizen-centered results and stronger public value.

This book is essential for anyone seeking effective, accountable public service delivery." -- David Van Slyke, Dean, Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, Professor and Louis A. Bantle Chair in Business-Government Policy, and author of Complex Contracting"For commissioners and providers who must make complex PPPs work, this book is practical, evidence-based, and usable. It shows with force how to embed public value and formal relational contracts-distilling hard lessons from Indiana-IBM and the Kirklees KBOP-so deals perform for citizens, not just spreadsheets." -- David Frydlinger, Partner, Cirio Law Firm (Stockholm) and author of Contracting in the New Economy"The applied research behind Contracting for Public Value is groundbreaking. The authors brilliantly articulate how government contracts can move beyond transactional relationships to create sustainable public value and the case studies clearly show the value of making the shift to relational contracting. A must-read for anyone committed to reimagining public procurement for the 21st century." -- Kate Vitasek, Faculty/Distinguished Fellow, University of Tennessee's Global Supply Chain Institute and co-author of Contracting in the New Economy.