The ins and outs of outsourcing and insourcing: what have we learnt from the past 30 years?

This paper explores recent experience with outsourcing of public services. It highlights how approaches to outsourcing have evolved during the past 30 years, moving through phases of competitive tendering, partnership working, strategic commissioning, prime contracting and, more recently, insourcing. The paper finishes with 10 lessons for commissioners and service providers which can be drawn from these experiences.