| This research has been able to identify and examine 10 cases in which municipal purchasing departments have been meaningfully involved in purchase decisions concerning consulting services. This is at a time when these types of purchase decisions have included very little, if any, involvement by the purchasing department. This research has also been able to identify how this involvement occurred, the factors that affected it, and the value that resulted.;These contributions are significant considering that there was very little theory or research to describe this phenomenon or the relationships between the factors identified. This research has been able to outline how meaningful involvement occurred, with respect to the activities performed by the purchasing department, within a research setting not previously examined. Further, this research has also identified a number of additional factors believed to affect this involvement that were not identified in the literature. Lastly, the numerous types of value associated with this type of involvement, as revealed by this research, have provided additional insight into the benefits associated with meaningful involvement. This improved understanding was needed and thus provides unique knowledge not otherwise available.;In addition to these 10 purchase decisions, some of the most difficult challenges facing purchasers, including those associated with public sector procurement, purchasing consulting services, and purchasing department effectiveness have also been discussed.;This research was based on interviews with 25 case study informants that included purchasing managers, purchasing agents, client departments, and a consultant. Insights from these informants provided the basis for analysis and enhanced both the reliability and validity of the research findings.;The ability of this research to identify and examine cases in which municipal purchasing departments were meaningfully involved in the acquisition processes for consulting services, at a time when purchasing department involvement in consulting service acquisitions has been noted to be very low, is of major significance in and of itself.;These findings provide a basis for increasing the involvement of municipal purchasing departments in acquisition processes concerning consulting services. This research may also be generalizable to other public agencies and to other services that are purchased. |
