Effektivitetsvinster av en centralisering? : En studie av en kommunal inköpsfunktion

Purchasing functions within the public sector has in recent years suffered from inefficiencies in the form of higher costs and improper allocation of resources. This adverse situation has led to reforms such as greater centralization within the purchasing function. The purpose of this study is to, on the basis of a Swedish municipality create an understanding of how efficiency is affected by the above-mentioned reform. More specific, how the adaptive and allocative efficiency is affected. This is achieved by creating an understanding of actors’ willingness to change and their possible contradictions towards centralization. And, through study of resource allocation and the organizations’ compliance with legislation, and how these factors have been affected by centralization, conduct interpretations about the efficiency. To study this, a qualitative approach has been adopted. The collection of empirical data has been made through personal interviews with affected actors and by collecting source material relating to resource allocation and legislative compliance. Empirical data has been analyzed through a content analysis. Through the analysis it was found that good incentives for a reform is important to establish and that participation opportunities (before and during a reform) contributes to the willingness to change and therefore the adaptive efficiency. It could also be noted that allocative efficiency, in many aspects, can be positively affected by centralization.Validerat; 20110615 (anonymous