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Managing Public Sector Contracts

Market Frictions and Human Resources Solutions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2026

Matthew Potoski
Affiliation:
University of California, Santa Barbara
Ole Helby Petersen
Affiliation:
Roskilde University
Lena Brogaard
Affiliation:
Roskilde University
Trevor Brown
Affiliation:
The Ohio State University

Summary

This Element presents a framework for analyzing the complexities of contracting, how these vary across circumstances, the ways contract managers can address challenges, and the skills of contract managers. The framework is grounded on central concepts. Market frictions are underlying imperfections that cause common contracting problems; contract management activities are the tasks and procedures that contract managers perform to prepare and execute the purchase; and skills are the ability to perform contract management activities that identify and mitigate frictions. These concepts are interdependent – market frictions can influence the efficacy of contract management activities, activities may reduce or increase the presence of frictions, and skills may influence both the choice and effectiveness of activities in addressing contracting challenges. Omitting any of these components is likely to result in misleading accounts of the root causes and potential solutions to contracting challenges.
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Managing Public Sector Contracts
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