Collaboration: What does it really mean?

Abstract

Collaboration has become a key concept in public management research and practice. Yet, the meaning of the term remains muddy and somewhat contested, often confounding research and practice efforts. This chapter seeks to clarify the meanings of varied ways of working together. We use guidance from a recently proposed governance typology along with a power typology to differentiate collaboration from consolidation, coordination, competition, cooperation, and clientelism. This inquiry draws from related disciplines to expand the field’s understanding of collaboration. Finally, we consider the implications of this interpretation of collaboration for public management research and practice.