Collaboration by the public sector: findings by watchdogs in Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

Drawing on an analysis of 112 watchdog reports that addressed collaboration, this paper concludes that governance issues make up a large proportion of all issues identified. Less commonly found were specific references to capacity and information management as important elements for effective collaboration. The evidence from watchdog reports confirms that collaboration remains very problematic for the public sector. Moreover, it is not evident that the wider public sector is drawing on this evidence extensively to learn and improve.

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support received from the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG), along with the time and information provided by Australian and New Zealand Auditor General and ombudsman institutions. All opinions and any errors in analysis and interpretation rest with the authors. The research is reported in full as an ANZSOG research monograph available from www.anzsog.edu.au

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Peter Wilkins

Peter Wilkins is an Adjunct Professor at the John Curtin Institute of Public Policy at Curtin University, Australia.

John Phillimore

John Phillimore is Professor of Public Policy and Executive Director of the John Curtin Institute of Public Policy at Curtin University, Australia.

David Gilchrist

David Gilchrist is Professor of Accounting and Director of the Curtin Not-for-profit Initiative, Curtin University, Australia.