Oshin-Martin, M (2014) Managing beyond the contract: Communicating and connecting to build sustainable collaborative relationships in international public-private partnerships. DM thesis, University of Maryland University College, USA.
Abstract
Partnerships between the public and private sectors are increasingly becoming the default approach for economic and infrastructure development worldwide. Such partnerships enable the partners to compensate for gaps in knowledge and capacity. However, the literature suggests that many public-private partnerships (PPP) fail to achieve their intended goals, arguing that managers may not possess the skill sets necessary to navigate the multiplicity of relationships involved. Using the theories of interpersonal-intercultural communication, social capital, relational signaling, and social networking, this dissertation investigated how PPP actors build sustainable and trusting collaborative relationships that facilitate mutual benefits and partner satisfaction. It examined the influence of interpersonal-intercultural communication, rapport, and social interactions on relationship development and maintenance leading to project success. An evidence-based research approach was undertaken, involving a systematic literature review and thematic synthesis of available empirical evidence. The findings suggested that the inherent conflicts between PPP actors, which can create project delays and failures, were reduced when all stakeholders were connected through effective communication and social interaction, based on a collaborative rather than contractual approach. Moreover, the study concluded that most PPP managers lacked "soft" relationship-building skills. This dissertation presents conclusions concerning the communication and other relationship challenges that PPP managers face and approaches to overcome them.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Wharff, D M and Andersen, D |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | failure; private sector; skills; communication; conflicts; partnership; project success; public-private partnership; stakeholder; systematic literature review |
| Index terms: | face, networking, systematic literature review, becoming, evidence, social capital, partnership, private sector, default, project success, dissertation, satisfaction, project delay, social interaction, manager, infrastructure development |
| Subjects: | dispute resolution, partnership management, project delivery, practitioner, psychology, industry analysis, philosophical process, research dissemination and communication, project management theory and practice, infrastructure engineering, research evaluation and metrics, sociology, evaluation and assessment methods, communication, project controls |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Time Control, Engineering Principles, Stakeholder Management, Legal Issues, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Project Management, Organizational Design, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here