Anna Thomasson

Exploring the Ambiguity of Hybrid Organisations: A Stakeholder Approach

This paper focuses on hybrid organisations, which have both public and private sector elements. Therefore, stakeholders of hybrid organisations have different views regarding what to expect from the organisation and the role of stakeholders tend to be multifaceted. This creates ambiguity that imposes demands on the management of hybrid organisations. In this paper a stakeholder approach is used in order to explore the ambiguity of hybrid organisations and the demands this imposes on managers.

Innovation in the Public Procurement Process: A study of the creation of innovation-friendly public procurement

Public sector organizations are large buyers and, in previous research public sector, have been regarded to be able to affect the market through demand-driven innovation, especially if different public sector entities collaborate with each other. However, what this study shows is that it is not necessary to be big or to collaborate in order to make an impact on the market, as even smaller local authorities have the ability to affect. In fact, it could even be an advantage to be small. The important factor is to think strategically about purchasing and to have knowledge about the market.

Bridging the accountability gap in hybrid organizations: the case of Copenhagen Malmö Port

Previous research on hybrid organizations has drawn attention to the accountability gap that is believed to emerge when the provision of public services is transferred to a hybrid organization. In this article we take our point of departure in that research and use a case study method to explore whether this gap can be bridged by existing corporate governance systems or if governance systems specially tailored to hybrid forms need to be developed. The result of the study shows that the process is equally important as the system in place. That is, it is not only the actual system but also how the system is implemented and used that affects the ability to bridge the accountability gap. Points for practitioners This article provides insight into how the hybrid form alters the relationship between citizens, elected politicians and organizations performing public services and, consequently, how the ability to secure accountability in public services changes. The results presented in the article provide politicians and managers in the public sector with knowledge regarding how, by focusing on organizational processes, relationships between stakeholders and performance evaluation can work with improving accountability in hybrid organizations. Further, the article stresses the need for performance evaluation to encompass not only financial aspects, but also the societal values of the public services performed by the hybrid organization.

Jointly owned companies as instruments of local government: comparative evidence from the Swedish and Italian water sectors

The combination of features from the public and private sectors in jointly owned companies imposes challenges to the governance and control mechanisms of these organisations, which have been criticised for lacking accountability. Where there is fragmented ownership, the interests of different owners need to be coordinated. The aim of this article is to consider how such companies can be governed in order to avoid this lack of accountability. The focus is on Swedish and Italian experience with joint public–private water supply companies in the local government area. The analysis draws on the literature on corporate governance in the public sector and shows that, even though contextual differences exist between the Swedish and Italian cases, there are also similarities in regard to the need to manage the conflicts of interests that surface due to fragmented ownership.

The Strategic Process and its Impact on the Outcome of a Tender

A competitive tendering process within a public organization does not always render the anticipated results, i.e., the intended strategy is not always realized. This paper shows that the way the strategy process is managed by the parties involved in the tender is of importance to the outcome. Previous research has mainly focused on the situation ex ante the tendering process. This paper contributes to the research on competitive tendering by focusing on the management that takes place ex post the tendering process. For this purpose a theoretical framework consisting of a process-based approach on strategy formation is applied to the analysis of two case studies of competitive tendering in the Swedish water and sewage sector.

Performance measurement of hybrid organizations - emerging issues and future research perspectives

While there is a substantial body of academic literature dealing with hybrids and another stream of literature about performance measurement and management, research on performance measurement and management in hybrids is limited. Our PMM theme presents a set of research papers, new development and debate articles to shed light on these topics. In this editorial, we provide a short overview of the rich and diversified academic debate on hybrids; we connect the broad theme of performance management with the special case of hybrids; and we present a future research agenda. Our aim is to link the research traditions of hybrid organizations and performance management more closely.Theme: Performance measurement of hybridorganizations : emerging issues and future researchperspectives

Stages of PPP and principal–agent conflicts: the Swedish water and sewerage sector

ABSTRACT The focus of this article is on public–private partnerships (PPPs). The aim is to both theoretically and empirically illustrate PPP agency problems in four PPP stages, as well as to identify potentially relevant solutions to the agency problems. The study employed a longitudinal case study of one PPP in a municipality in southern Sweden. Through an analysis based on interviews, observations, and documents, the study illustrates a number of agency problems faced by PPPs and highlights the importance of resource allocation, stakeholder management, and the creation of a common identity in reducing these problems.

Governance and Accountability of Joint Ventures: A Swedish Case Study

The purpose of this chapter is to analyze and understand accountability and governance within joint ventures formed to provide public services that are facing increasing demands due to new and more extensive legal requirements and increasing demands from users regarding the type and quality of the services delivered. At the same time, as the demands are increasing, the financial situation in the public sector has in many counties become more difficult, and due to large number of retirements, there is a shortage of people with the right competences.

Translating sustainable and smart city strategies into performance measurement systems

This paper shows how sustainable and smart strategies can be implemented in cities and how these strategies influence, and are influenced by, performance measurement systems. Drawing upon the Foucauldian notion of governmentality, the authors present the case of Gothenburg in Sweden, where they interviewed the key actors involved in a new sustainability strategy. Translating strategy into performance measurement systems requires collaboration across organizational boundaries and considerations of financial goals and social and human aspects.

Issues on Transparency, Accountability and Control in Hybrid organisations: The Case of Enterprises Owned by Local Government

This study increases our knowledge regarding the challenges of governing hybrid organisations in general and enterprises owned by local government in particular. Therefore, the findings of this study are considered to be of support to politicians as well as civil servants involved in and responsible for the governance of hybrid organisations. We argue that it is important to carefully supervise this development in local government. As corporations owned and operated by local governments have increased in numbers, they are responsible for large values and services that are crucial for the modern society (water, waste management, energy, IT). Consequently, they are becoming ever more important players in their respective local economies. At the same time, concerns have been raised regarding how to govern hybrid organisations in order to secure accountability and to protect public sector values.