Picture of UK Houses of Parliament

Leading national thinking on politics, government & public policy through Open Access research

Strathprints makes available scholarly Open Access content by researchers in the School of Government & Public Policy, based within the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences.

Research here is 1st in Scotland for research intensity and spans a wide range of domains. The Department of Politics demonstrates expertise in understanding parties, elections and public opinion, with additional emphases on political economy, institutions and international relations. This international angle is reflected in the European Policies Research Centre (EPRC) which conducts comparative research on public policy. Meanwhile, the Centre for Energy Policy provides independent expertise on energy, working across multidisciplinary groups to shape policy for a low carbon economy.

Explore the Open Access research of the School of Government & Public Policy. Or explore all of Strathclyde's Open Access research...

Strathprints

Theorising collaboration practice

Huxham, C. (2003) Theorising collaboration practice. Public Management Review, 5 (3). pp. 401-423. ISSN 1471-9037

Full text not available in this repository.Request a copy from the Strathclyde author

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the theory of collaborative advantage. This is a practice-oriented theory concerned with enhancing practical understanding of the management isssues involved in joint working across organizations. Two contrasting concepts are central to it: collaborative advantage which is concerned with the potential for synergy from working collaboratively; and, collaborative inertia which relates to the often disappointing output in reality. The theory is structured as a set of overlapping themes, which are predominantly issues that practitioners see as causing pain and reward in collaborative situations. Five example themes are discussed: common aims; power; trust; membership structures; and, leadership. It is argued that the theory captures the complexity that underlies collaborative situations and conveys it in a way that seems real to those involved. It aims to empower those involved through legitimising experienced frustration and providing conceptual handles to help address the practical issues involved.

Item type:Article
ID code:4309
Keywords:collaborative management, organisational theory, management theory, action research, leadership, Management. Industrial Management, Management Information Systems, Management of Technology and Innovation
Subjects:Social Sciences > Industries. Land use. Labor > Management. Industrial Management
Department:Strathclyde Business School > Strategy and Organisation
Depositing user: Strathprints Administrator
Date deposited:16 Oct 2007
Last modified:14 Jun 2019 02:10
URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/4309
Export data:
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)