Lena Brogaard

National Varieties of Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs): A Comparative Analysis of PPP-Supporting Units in 19 European Countries

Abstract Most countries that have adopted the public–private partnership (PPP) model as a means of implementing infrastructure projects have launched dedicated supporting units to guide policy development and stimulate project implementation. This paper draws on the theoretical notion of PPP-enabling fields to carry out a comparative analysis of the roles and functions of PPP-supporting units across 19 European countries with varying PPP experiences. We distinguish four categories of national support of PPPs, from skeptical systems of zero support to full-fledged PPP systems. Furthermore, we take initial steps to analyze the possible link between national differences in institutionalized PPP support and the amount of implemented PPP projects. Finally, pathways for further research on PPP-supporting units are discussed.

The impact of innovation training on successful outcomes in public–private partnerships

ABSTRACT Public–private partnerships (PPPs) are increasingly seen as a way of innovating the production and management of public services. However, the question of what drives innovation in partnerships has so far received only limited attention. Drawing on network governance and collaborative innovation literature, this article presents the findings from a survey among 260 Danish PPPs. The study shows that while innovation training has a significant effect on achieving innovation in PPPs, factors such as trust and institutional support only affect some innovation types. The findings demonstrate the importance of individual innovation skills and a differentiated understanding of innovation outcomes in PPPs.

Innovation and value in pre-commercial procurement: A systematic evaluation of national experiences

Governments increasingly use novel forms of public procurement to stimulate innovation in public service delivery. A notable example is pre-commercial procurement. Launched by the European Commission a decade ago, pre-commercial procurement encourages research and development of new solutions for the public sector. However, limited theoretical and empirical studies have made it difficult to assess and improve use of the model to foster public innovation. Based on two pre-commercial procurement projects in Denmark, the article aims to complete the first systematic and theory-based evaluation of national experiences. The evaluation shows that sufficient resources, participant and management commitment, and focused management of the collaborative process contributed to successful development and testing of a new solution in one of the projects. Meanwhile, technical obstacles in developing a prototype resulted in termination of the other project. In this case, the pre-commercial procurement model cannot accommodate significant changes to the agreed solution during the innovation process.

Business Value in Public-Private Partnerships:: The Positive Impact of Trust and Task-Relevant Competencies on Business Outcomes in PPPs

ABSTRACT Governments and businesses enter public-private partnerships (PPPs) to achieve better outcomes, but successful partnerships are not easily accomplished. Because businesses’ expectations about PPP outcomes affect how and whether they participate as partners, managing PPPs effectively requires knowing not just what governments lose or gain, but also the value businesses receive. This article demonstrates how structural, collaborative, and participant factors associated with both public and private partners affect business value in PPPs. Based on a mixed-methods approach, this study tests four hypotheses on how PPPs influence value creation for businesses. The findings show that PPP experience, trust, and size have significant effects on business value. However, they only increase certain types of value, depending on the presence and performance of other factors. Moreover, the results show that businesses gain more intangible values, such as network development and knowledge, than revenue.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) in development policy: Exploring the concept and practice

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have proliferated in development studies over the past decades. However, oftentimes the partnership notion remains loosely defined, thus making it difficult to grasp the concept and evaluate practice. This article aims to contribute to conceptual and empirical exploration of the PPP concept. Based on a comprehensive review of the literature, we frame eight characteristics of PPPs in development policy. Turning then to exploration of empirical practice, we present a longitudinal analysis of PPPs in Danish development policy over a twenty-year period. The conceptual and empirical insights target PPP development researchers and practitioners alike. n nThis article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.