Public–private partnerships (PPPs) are understood as collaborative devices that can be used to achieve both efficiency and innovation. For this potential to be realized, however, some significant obstacles to effective collaboration must be overcome, such as the cognitive distance that often separates public and private agents. In order to deepen our understanding of the collaboration problem, this article assesses the size and characteristics of cognitive distance by looking at agents operating in the construction industry in Italy and Slovenia. Our analysis detects the presence of different types of cognitive distance in different socio-economic contexts, suggesting that cognitive distance is not simply the outcome of individual intentionality but also of social context. We argue that there is constructive room for policies supporting the efficiency and diffusion of PPPs that will facilitate the emergence of context-specific intermediaries to smooth the progress of collaborative work.

Cognitive distance in public procurement and public–private partnerships: An analysis of the construction sector / Caloffi Annalisa; Gambarotto Francesca. - In: ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING. C, POLITICS AND SPACE. - ISSN 2399-6552. - ELETTRONICO. - 35:(2017), pp. 765-783. [10.1177/0263774X16680108]

Cognitive distance in public procurement and public–private partnerships: An analysis of the construction sector

Caloffi Annalisa
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
2017

Abstract

Public–private partnerships (PPPs) are understood as collaborative devices that can be used to achieve both efficiency and innovation. For this potential to be realized, however, some significant obstacles to effective collaboration must be overcome, such as the cognitive distance that often separates public and private agents. In order to deepen our understanding of the collaboration problem, this article assesses the size and characteristics of cognitive distance by looking at agents operating in the construction industry in Italy and Slovenia. Our analysis detects the presence of different types of cognitive distance in different socio-economic contexts, suggesting that cognitive distance is not simply the outcome of individual intentionality but also of social context. We argue that there is constructive room for policies supporting the efficiency and diffusion of PPPs that will facilitate the emergence of context-specific intermediaries to smooth the progress of collaborative work.
2017
35
765
783
Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
Caloffi Annalisa; Gambarotto Francesca
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Caloffi Gambarotto 2017.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: Articolo principale
Tipologia: Pdf editoriale (Version of record)
Licenza: DRM non definito
Dimensione 596.26 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
596.26 kB Adobe PDF

I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1147467
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 5
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 4
social impact