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| Author: | Hoffmann, J. Steiner, A. Jarren, O. |
| Title: | The inimitable outsider: contracting out public affairs from a consultant's perspective |
| Journal: | Journal of communication management
2011 : VOL. 15:1, p. 23-40 |
| Index terms: | Switzerland politics communication consultants outsourcing transaction costs |
| Freeterms: | lobbying |
| Language: | eng |
| Abstract: | This study aims at empirically supplementing the perspective of the consultant to identify potential inimitable functions that possibly explain why public affairs work is often contracted-out. Based on an inductive empirical research design, a nation-wide survey about public affairs consultants in Switzerland is performed. The results highlight lobbying, political public relations (PR), and campaigns as the main areas of service which are associated with different functions. It is shown that the real or supposed independence of the consultant in relations to the client constitutes an incomparable resource. The outsider-status facilitates the successful fulfilment of public affairs functions e.g. innovation, boundary-spanning, access and legitimizing. Thus, it is very important for consultants to build up a reputation. |
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