Robert Shepherd
Professor, Graduate Supervisor (Public Policy and Program Evaluation) — Canadian public management; comparative public management; audit and federal program evaluation; performance measurement and management; First Nations governance; ethics and accountability in government
- Email Robert Shepherd
- 613-520-2600 ext 2257
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Honours BA in Politics and Business Administration (Brock University, Canada)
MA in Public Policy and Administration (杏吧原创 University, Canada)
MBA (University of Ottawa, Canada)
PhD in Political Science and Public Administration (University of Toronto, Canada)
Robert鈥檚 research spans public management and governmental reform, Indigenous public management, ethics, and policy and program evaluation. He is interested in how public accountability and oversight systems intersects to improve overall public management and governance systems. In addition, his research extends to understanding how governmental program evaluation functions can improve public policy and decision-making. Improving ethics in government also contributes to governmental legitimacy and democracy.
My research focuses on the interplay between ethics in government, oversight and public confidence. Building on the thoughts of Jeremy Bentham, I believe that systems that enhance transparency in decision-making make governments and their concomitant systems behave and work as they were intended. Making governments accountable means building a public service culture of integrity, service, and the willingness to provide forthright advice to elected leaders. My research into areas of ethics in public management, accountability, governance reform and program evaluation come together in various ways, including ultimately building a public service culture of honesty and integrity. Recent reform efforts in areas such as performance measurement, deliverology, evaluation, and audit provide fertile ground for studying how these oversight systems can make a difference to improving public confidence in government.
Honours
- SPPA Excellence in Teaching Award (2013/14)
- C.B. MacPherson-Dawson Dissertation Fellowship (2001/02)
- Department of Political Science, University of Toronto Amount: $2,500
- Doctoral Studies Research Fellowship, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto (1997/98, 2000/01, 2001/02)
Publications
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- Lindquist, Evert A. and Robert P. Shepherd. 2023. 鈥淪pending Reviews and the Government of Canada: From episodic to institutionalized capabilities and repertoires,鈥 Canadian Public Administration, 66(2). 247-267.
- Shepherd, Robert. 2022. 鈥淚nternal governmental performance and accountability in Canada: Insights and lessons for post-pandemic improvement,鈥 Canadian Public Administration, 65(3), 516-537.
- Shepherd, Robert and Treena Orchard. 2022. 鈥淲e cause a ruckus鈥: Exploring How Indigenous Youth Navigate the Challenges of Community Engagement and Leadership. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), 9542.
- Brock, Kathy and Robert Shepherd. 2022. 鈥淭he Trudeau Government and GIC Appointments in Canada,鈥 International Journal of Public Sector Management, 35(4), 463-479.
- Savard, Jean-Francois and Isabelle Caron, Kathy Brock and Robert Shepherd Canadian Public Administration. 63(3): pp. 528鈥533 (September 2020) 听Wiley-Blackwell.
- Shepherd, Robert. & Katherine Graham. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. 34(3): pp.442-463 (March 2020) University of Toronto Press.
- Shepherd, Robert Patrick. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. 34(3): p.513 (March 2020) University of Toronto Press.
- James McDavid, Robert Shepherd, and Sahara Morin. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. 鈥35(1): p. 104听(April听2020)听University of Toronto Press.
- McDavid, Jim et al.Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. 鈥32(3): p. 297听(April听2018)听University of Toronto Press.
- Shepherd, Robert P.Canadian Journal of Program Ealuation. 鈥32(3): p.听347听(April听2018)听University of Toronto Press.
- Pross, A. Paul, and Robert P Shepherd.鈥Canadian Public Administration. 鈥60(2): pp. 153-172听(June听2017).听Wiley-Blackwell Full Collection听鈥撎鼵RKN.
- Shepherd, Robert.听Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation.听26(2): pp.听1-47听(Fall 2011)听University of Toronto Press.
- Shepherd, R.听the鈥痯riority from the top down.鈥 听Canadian Public Administration.听54(2): pp.听277-304听(June 2011)听Wiley-Blackwell.
- Shepherd, Robert and Diabo, Russell. “A Government-First Nations Dialogue on Accountability: Re-establishing Understanding on the Basics of a Complex Relationship”听Native Studies听Review.听15(2):听pp. 61鈥82听(2004)听University of Saskatchewan听听
- Shepherd, R. P. “The Citizens’ Forum: a case study in public听consultation.”鈥Optimum.鈥23(4): pp.听18-27听(March 1993)听Ottawa – Ontario : Consulting and Audit Canada. ISSN:听0475-1906听
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- Shepherd, Robert, Diane Simsovic and Alan Latourelle. 鈥淐anada鈥檚 National Parks.鈥 In Howlett, Michael and Evert Lindquist, Grace Skogstad, Genevieve Tellier, Paul 鈥榯 Hart, Successful Public Policy: Lessons from Canada. Oxford University Press. Winter 2021-22. Forthcoming
- Shepherd, Robert, Diane Simsovic and Alan Latourelle. 鈥淐anada鈥檚 National Parks.鈥 In Howlett, Michael and Evert Lindquist, Grace Skogstad, Genevieve Tellier, Paul 鈥榯 Hart, Successful Public Policy: Lessons from Canada. Oxford University Press. Winter 2021-22.
- Shepherd, Robert. 2018. 鈥淵ou Got to Know When to Hold 鈥楨m: An Evaluation that went from Bad to Worse.鈥 In Kylie Hutchinson (ed.). Evaluation Failures: 22 Tales of Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned. Toronto: Sage, 77-82.
- Shepherd, Robert. 2018. 鈥淚ndigenous Peoples and the Reconciliation Agenda: Funding, Accountability and Risk.鈥 In Christopher Dunn (ed.). The Handbook of Canadian Public
- Shepherd, Robert and Christopher Stoney. 2018. 鈥淧olicy Analysis in the Federal Government: Conditions and Renewal Initiatives in the Trudeau Era.鈥 In Laurent Dobuzinskis and Michael
- Shepherd, Robert and Bryan Evans. 2017. 鈥淭he Intersections of Public Policy and Political Communications: Insights from Federal Public Service Elites.鈥 In Alex Marland, Thierry Giasson and Andrea Lawlor (Eds.), Political Elites in Canada: Power and Influence in Instantaneous Times. Vancouver: UBC Press.
- Honest Politics Now: What Ethical Conduct Means in Canadian Public Life. Ian Greene and David Shugarman (Eds.). Toronto: Lorimer, 2017. Principal author for two chapters, and co- author for five of 11 chapters.
- Shepherd, Robert. 2016. 鈥淭he Program Evaluation Function: Uncertain Governance and Effects.鈥 In Thomas Klassen, et. al. (Eds.), Handbook of Global Public Policy and Administration. New York: Routledge, 335-45.
- Shepherd, Robert P. and Christopher Stoney, Lori Turnbull. 2016. 鈥淭he Changing Nature of the Relationship Between Public Servants and Ministers.鈥 In Thomas Klassen, et. al., (Eds.), Handbook of Global Public Policy and Administration. New York: Routledge, 271-79.
- Shepherd, Robert. 2013. 鈥淗ow Ottawa Controls: Harper Era Strategic Reviews in the Context of the 1993-1996 Liberal Program Review.鈥 In G. Bruce Doern and Christopher Stoney (eds.), How Ottawa Spends 2013/2014. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen鈥檚 University Press. Ch. 8.
- Shepherd, Robert. 2011. 鈥淒o institutions responsible for parliamentary oversight offer better tools for scrutinizing and improving governance? The Affirmative Proposition.鈥 In Leone, Robert and Frank Ohemeng (eds.). Approaching Public Administration: Core Debates and Emerging Issues. Toronto: Edmund Montgomery Publications, 163-74.
- Shepherd, Robert. 2010. 鈥淎ccountability and First Nations in Canada.鈥 In Christopher Dunn (ed.). Handbook of Canadian Public Management, 2nd Edition. Toronto: Nelson, 330-49.
- Shepherd, Robert. 2009. 鈥淓valuating The Rationale Of The New Federal Lobbying Act: Making Lobbying Transparent Or Regulating The Industry?鈥 In Allan Maslove (ed.), How Ottawa Spends 2009/2010: Economic Upheaval and Political Dysfunction. Montreal and Kingston: McGill- Queen鈥檚 University Press, 115-50.
- Shepherd, Robert and Anne Perkins. 2001. 鈥淢anaging in the New Public Service: Some Implications for How We Are Governed.鈥 In Leslie A. Pal (ed.), How Ottawa Spends 2001-2002: Power in Transition. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 95-122.
- Paquet, Gilles and Robert Shepherd. 1996. 鈥淭he Program Review Process: A Deconstruction.鈥 In Gene Swimmer (ed.), How Ottawa Spends 1996/97, Life Under the Knife. Ottawa: 杏吧原创 University Press, 39-74.
Videos & Media Coverage
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- (Lobby Monitor, Aug 2021)
- (杏吧原创 Newsroom, Nov 2019)
- (Hill Times, Jul 2019)
- (Hill Times, May 2019)
- (Policy Options, Oct 2018)
- (CBC, Oct 2017)
- (Macleans, Dec 2016)
- (CBC, May 2016)
- Public Policy Education Thriving (FPA News, May 2016)
- (CBC, Mar 2016)
- (CBC, Mar 2016)
- (CBC, Aug 2015)
- (Global News, Oct 2014)
- (CBC, Nov 2012)
SPPA News
Robert Shepherd | Answering key questions about DPPE
In your view, why are trained program evaluators and evaluation managers 鈥 like those the DPPE produces 鈥 essential for meeting public expectations today? Robert: …
SPPA Professor Robert Shepherd in the News
Robert Shepherd has contributed valuable perspectives on government accountability and transparency in the wake of recent reports concerning the misuse of government contacts for securing …