The Implementation of Contracting Out in Taiwan’s Local Governments: An Application of Q Methodology

Abstract

Contracting out has been practiced in Taiwan since 1993, and the recent reform efforts
are to encourage its implementation at the local government level. To
ensure the success of contracting out in Taiwan, it is argued that the
practical experiences of local practitioners are more helpful in
designing its implementation strategy. Q methodology is applied from a
“bottom-up†approach through which street-level bureaucrats are invited
to contribute their opinions and to perform the Q sorting. There are at
least five discourses been revealed, each of them represents a
distinctive perception of contracting out on the basis of personal
experiences. It is argued that contracting out has been perceived as an
administrative means through which public-private relationships can be
promoted and ensured. Therefore, efforts to strengthen contract and
network management capacities are needed to guarantee the success of
implementing contracting out at local governments in Taiwan.