Policy Press Collaboration in Public Policy and Practice: Perspectives on Boundary Spanners

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. Review 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.--Bob Hudson, Durham University "Voluntas" (10/21/2011 12:00:00 AM) "An important contribution toward understanding collaboration."-- "Voluntas" About the Author Paul Williams is an experienced researcher and academic with an international reputation for his work on collaborative working, particularly the role and competencies of boundary spanners.