Collaborative futures: discursive realignments in austere times

Abstract

This article explores the future of collaboration in an era of austerity. Boundary object theory provides a framework to assess the significance and role of four key discourses in collaboration—efficiency, effectiveness, responsiveness and cultural performance. Crisis provides a way of examining how discourses realign. The exploration of discourses aids critical analysis of collaboration across sectoral, geographical and disciplinary boundaries, highlighting the importance of understanding the contextual roots of collaboration theory and practice, and the implications of local/global dynamics.

Keywords:

• Austerity
• boundary object theory
• collaboration
• discourses

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the ESRC for funding the seminar series. We would also like to acknowledge all those who contributed to the seminar series, especially Professor Chris Huxham, Co-Investigator for this ESRC Seminar Series. We thank in particular Mark Wardman (Senior Advisor, Audit Commission) and Sian Harrop-Griffiths (Cardiff and Vale University Health Board) who worked with us throughout the series and helped shape the material contained in this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Helen Sullivan

Helen Sullivan is Director of the Centre for Public Policy, University of Melbourne, Australia.

Paul Williams

Paul Williams is Reader in Public Management and Collaboration, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK.

Mick Marchington

Mick Marchington is Emeritus Professor of Human Resource Management, Manchester Business School and Professor of Human Resource Management, Strathclyde Business School, UK.

Louise Knight

Louise Knight is Senior Lecturer in Management, Aston University, UK.