Does the future of military logistics lie in outsourcing and privatization? Accountants – the new gatekeepers of war‐time operations

Abstract

An old, often‐paraphrased adage (generally attributed to Georges Clemenceau) suggests that “war is too important to be left to the generals”. Similarly, military privatization/outsourcing is too important to be left to civilian accountants. The concept brings fear to labor unions and bureaucrats, and is a source of considerable risk. This paper examines potential benefits and potential problems associated with such privatization and outsourcing, alongside the cultural and psychological barriers to its acceptance.