Provision of Services to the Public: Contracting Out - Article Example

Provision of Services to the Public: Contracting OutProvision of services to the public is the primary responsibility of any state government. However, the state can decide to make use of private entities to provide the services to the people. When a regime decides to outsource some services from the private sector, the scenario is contracting out. Outsourcing is necessary due to various reasons; proponents for the practice argue that it aids in the improvement of the quality of service (Alverez-Antolinez, 2007).

Additionally, since most public services get funding from taxpayer’s money there is a possibility of wastage (Rose-Ackerman & Lindseth 2011). Misuse of funds occurs due to lack of direct supervision for the use of the available finances. Privatization of services to the public has generated debate over which services should be left in private hands and those that should not. Services that can easily be outsourced are those that generate some form of income and are not sensitive to the citizens.

Provision of education and daycare services are among the services placed in private hand in most states. The quality of education offered in public institutions has fallen in quality due to lack of proper mechanisms to account for use of funding from the public coffers. Students from private schools have performed better in comparison to those from public schools. Private schools lay more emphasis on quality to attract more students and generate more income. Education would thus be easier to subcontract as quality is likely to improve, and the state only needs to subsidize the cost.

Transport services can also benefit massively from privatization. Private organizations are often established for the sole purpose of generating profit. Due to this management of private bus companies, invest in quality equipment and personnel. Efficiency and the quality of service in thus very high, the administration then only has to subsidize the cost of transport by paying the providers and extending incentives. Running of community centers can also be outsourced to private entities that can easily maintain and run the centers at a fee.

Notably, the provision of certain services is vital to the people and outsourcing them would cause grave consequences. The management of organizations constituted for the main purpose of generating profits aim only to satisfy the shareholders. Subcontracting services like building inspection may thus be an enormous risk. In a bid to meet revenue, targets the employees may decide to issue inspection documents to substandard construction work. Such structures may over time collapse and cause massive loss of life.

Agencies within the state on certain occasions give third parties the mandate to hire and fire workers on their behalf. Employees are central to the running of administration; a trustworthy workforce is critical since the job involves the management of public funds. Private organizations can mismanage the recruitment process in an effort to reduce the cost. Hiring and firing should thus be the responsibility of the state. Security is a sensitive issue, for citizens to go about their lives comfortably they have to feel secure.

Giving the provision of security to other parties could compromise the quality (Chesterman & Fisher 2009). Management of correctional facilities cannot be subjected in the hands of private entities. Correction of behavior is an essential part of raising a just society and cannot be left in the hands of private citizens. Private organizations may collude with criminals who have access to money and may release them back into the community. In summary contracting out, entails sourcing some of the services that state organizations offer to private entities.

Outsourcing mainly aims to cut cost and increase efficiency. Some services like education, transport and running of community centers can easily be delegated to private organizations. Nevertheless, there are services that are vital to the citizenry and cannot be left in private hands. Private institutions main aim is generating profit, service provision to the citizens is more important than generating profit (Abelson & Macquarie University, 2005). Services like running prisons service, security and building inspection, are important and sensitive.

It would thus be detrimental to let private citizens handle them.Critique of articlesThe first article is an analysis of the Merit system by the student Christy. The work evaluates how the merit system sets out relationships within an organization. It finds use in determining how to award promotions within the entire organizations structure. Merit system ensures that there is equality, learning and high employee retention rates. The second article is about the merit system by Bradley. Bradley takes a more in-depth analysis of the topic by evaluating the use of the system in other spheres of life like in academia.

The Merit system is useful is setting out rules of engagement in relation to promotions, thus potentially reducing conflict among the employees. The work analyses the legislation that advocates for the Merit system. Equality based on gender and race is important, the legislation thus ensures equal opportunity to all citizens. According to Bradley, since promotion and employment is on the basis of merit and past experience, new graduates may face unemployment due to lack of work experience.ReferencesAlverez-Antolinez, C. (2007). Leadership, structures and accountability in the public service: Priorities for the next phase of reform.

Dublin: IPA.Abelson, P. W., & Macquarie University. (2005). Outsourcing of public services in Australia: Seven case studies. Sydney: Dept. of Economics, Macquarie University.Chesterman, S., & Fisher, A. (2009). Private Security, Public Order: The Outsourcing of Public Services and Its Limits. Oxford: OUP Oxford.Rose-Ackerman, S., & Lindseth, P. L. (2011). Comparative Administrative Law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Pub.