Research: Partners Must Start Smart
“The beginning is the most important part of any work,” wrote Plato in The Republic. This wisdom holds true for partnerships between governments and private entities, shows a new meta-analysis of studies on collaborative governance. The researchers find that cross-sector initiatives work best when partners start out with equal amounts of resources, comparable incentives to participate, and a previous history of cooperation. These starting conditions then foster the trust that is necessary for partners to work together over the long haul.
“Starting conditions aren’t always considered as seriously as they should be, but they sure pack a predictive punch,” says…
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