Collaboration in Public Policy and Practice: Perspectives on Boundary Spanners

Description

Collaborative working is an established feature of the public, business and third sector environments, but its effectiveness can be hampered by complex structural and personal variants. This original book explores the influence of agency through the role of individual actors in collaborative working processes, known as boundary spanners. It examines the different aspects of the boundary spanner's role and discusses the skills, abilities, and experience that are necessary. It will be of interest to academics, researchers and students interested in this field of study, and provides learning for policy makers and practitioners active in the fields of collaboration.

Paul Williams is a Reader in Public Management and Collaboration, Cardiff School of Management, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff. He has been involved in teaching for 10 years which has included formal teaching on accredited programmes and teaching on management development/leadership programmes primarily to a public and third sector audience. Since 2005 he has been lecturing on Strategic Management on MBA and Undergraduate Programmes. His teaching contribution at the Cardiff School of Management has primarily been focused on the strategic management core module of the MBA.

"Partnership working has long been the holy grail of public services delivery, but has been addressed by endless structural reconfigurations. In this excellent book on the role and nature of 'boundary spanners', Williams shifts the focus onto the people who really make partnerships work effectively." Professor Bob Hudson, School of Applied Social Sciences, Durham University. "We know that agency can be key to collaborative success. Now thanks to this highly original, accessible and well-researched book, we have a much better understanding of who the key agents are, what they do and how they do it. A sound investment for policy makers, practitioners and academics." Helen Sullivan, Director, Centre for Public Policy, University of Melbourne