Telling tales of commissioning: insights from a qualitative longitudinal study of third sector organisations

There is much debate and a developing body of research concerned with the implications of third sector organisations engaging with commissioning processes associated with public service delivery. Much commentary and analysis is highly critical of commissioning and its effects, and more generally tends to portray third sector organisations as either fragile and at risk or in need of reform and modernisation. By drawing on contrasting case studies of voluntary action through a qualitative longitudinal study, this working paper explores the nuances involved for third sector organisations in understanding, navigating and negotiating a complex commissioning environment. After describing the commissioning experience of our four case studies, we focus on five cross-cutting themes: rules, resources, refocusing and restructuring, relationships, and re-thinking the problem. We conclude that while commissioning is no doubt challenging for voluntary organisations, particularly smaller ones, they are not passively responding to their environment but developing a range of tactics to navigate the landscape, and to actively challenge and shape it.