Partnership Agents for Service Delivery Literature Review

performances delivered by numerous private institutions, the glaring differences between the outcomes in the public and private sector calls for a paradigm change in state operations for service delivery. In the event that the necessary changes are ignored, we shall continue to experience mismatched and unsustainable development outcomes that pull back cohesive efforts in development. Government and private sectors have been seen to have completely different measures of leadership and quality improvements in goods and services (Morse, 2010, Reay T. And Hinings C.R., 2014). The paper evaluates institutional changes that are ideal to, set in a working partnership within the two competing factions - (government and private sectors) -- and, deliver sustainable developments in a region (Vurro et al., 2010).

Partnering Rationale

Partnerships is a cohesive, widespread and all-encompassing means to ensure developments sought are long-term, coherent to the social expectations and inclusive sufficiently to tackle even more intractable difficulties (Vangen and Huxham, 2003). Partnering for a unified course eliminates probable duplication of activities that may occur when competing parties seek to outdo each other. Partnership phenomenon has also received criticism relating to leadership and managerial challenges and meeting their intended goals (Vangen and Huxham, 2003). The available literature and policy exhibit sufficient background information to facilitate the formulation of formidable partnership even within competing institutions (Hudson and Hardy, 2001).

To achieve a formidable cohesive partnership, (Hudson and Hardy, 2001), identify six principle guidelines. First there is a need to accept and recognize partnership as a necessity. Secondly uphold the realism and clarity of the purpose, thirdly emphasize on ownership and commitment by the partners. Forth, partners need to develop trust and maintain it, fifth, have a plan of robust and clear partnership arrangements and finally monitor, learn and measure each progress in the planning and implementation (Hudson and Hardy, 2001).

Vangen and Huxham (2003), agree that the six tenants for partnership if properly implemented will contribute to a success. However, proper mediations between the parties is necessary in setting up objectives that are aligned to each parties objective and the mode of governance and leadership agreed upon. With this in mind, Vangen and Huxham (2003) recommend that the skilled facilitator have a wholesome overview of each party's interest and factor their interest keeping, each party fully and well informed.

A facilitator will need to be fully knowledgeable on both public and private institutions in order to act as an agent of change. The facilitator according to (Vangen and Huxham, 2003) will have to reach out to the parties and encourage them in each step, empowering them and highlighting next probable outcome. The partnership is further reinforced when goals are met and the partners feel their invaluable input and those of their partners contributed immensely (Vangen and Huxham, 2003).

Deeper trusting relationship will result with each party observing the outcome matching expectation and each party fulfilling their obligation in the partnership. Similar to these assertions, were the recommendations by (Hudson and Hardy, 2001) stating that the facilitator in the partnership should target getting the partners on board by first convincing them on the ideals of the partnership. After this, the facilitator ought to set small realistic goals that each party can partake in an realize outcomes. The realization of these outcomes will elevate trust levels. In levels of power differences between parties, it is recommended transparent communication be upheld. This will ensure the trust achieved however small with the little interactions in the operations will not be eroded.

Hudson and Hardy (2001) observe that a partnership deal is possible to survive the dynamics of the global economy given the parties ability to adapt and learn with ease of flexibility. The two parties are trying to intermarry across sectors whose tradition and operational standards differ significantly. This stands as a stumbling block especially if rigidity to change in perspective is present. Governance structure incorporating the two varied tradition from the parties will need to be coined from relations and sustainable interactions. The parties on the other hand will need to embrace an open mind in relations with the potential partners.

Hudson and Hardy (2001) proposes capacity build exercises that target giving an understanding to each of the parties their potential partner's work ethics and practices. The partners will be given an orientation on each-other's culture, work styles, and time strictness. With the understanding that follows this orientation, the parties will relate to each other trying to incorporate the different work style, ethics and practice while upholding their own practices. In this case learning comes out as an integral measure of attaining cross sector partnership since it helps in building an understanding

Sustainable development

Googins and Rochlin (2000) make observation on the potential of collaboration between the public and private actors. In the assessment Googins & Rochlin, observe this will serve as a new model in social economic systems. The likely outcome of the relations is only through the parties ability to appreciate the collaborative bond the binds them. The collaborative bonds the common outcomes are achieved and afford each of the partners an advantage (Glasbergen, 2011). Huxham and Vangen (2005) argue that by the partnering institutions bundling their core competencies, they will complement each other's strength and weakness.

A collaborative advantage is realized from the complementing effect thereby allowing parties to appreciate each other input in the relations formed. This appreciation is what eventually contributes to sustainable development since each parties input meets the other parties input in a complementary way. For the collaborative advantage to be achieved it is necessary that internal aspects of each party's institution match or interact to some degree with the other. The institutional process of huddling and setting targets, describing goals, interaction culture will all need to be inline (Glasbergen, 2011). This will in effect create the much need bond to allow each institution treat the other as a pertinent aspect in the operation. Supportively the resultant cohesive effort will grow to provide stronger and sustainable development (Huxham and Vangen, 2005).

In the case where the alignment to the two institutions internal environment is missed a case of improper relation will result. This according to Huxham and Vangen (2005)will lead to lack of understanding of each other and a failure to appreciate and recognize input and contribution. A collaborative advantage likely to be realized in this case is minimal owing to internal mismatch.

Huxham and Vangen (2005), observes that, to realize sustainable development through partnership, each party ought to hold an equal and shared responsibility in the operation. None of the parties should be in a position to regulate the behavior of the other and all parties need to have share rights in decision taking. As mentioned earlier, an emphasis is made on the need to ensure that the parties have equal access to information (Kim et al., 2012). The level of dependence to each other in the partnership should extend to comparable degrees with a reciprocal that is mutual. The sentiments echoed by (Huxham and Vangen, 2005), in this paragraph reflect those by (Glasbergen, 2011)and others in relation to sustainable relations, developments and collaborative advantage.

Institutional Logic

The term institutional logic was introduced by Alford and Friedland in 1985 describing the contradicting beliefs and practices inherent to modern western society institution. The two authors describe, state bureaucracy, capitalism and political democracy to be the contending orders in an institution that have differing practices and beliefs shaping the way an individual engages in political activity (Greenwood et al., 2008). In developing their model, Alford and Friedman evaluated the concept of interrelationship that exists between the individual and the institution. Their evaluation led to the assertion that organizational material practice among other patterns of activity tend to rub off on the individual.

The institutional order according to Alford and Friedland has a central logic that individuals will casually make reference to in their day-to-day life. Alford and Friedland model directly disputes the theories of macro structural perspective and rational choice claiming that, though individuals will make their own choices, the choices made reflect the domineering institutional practice and principle. Alford and Friedland model claim that institutional logic gives constraints to the individual's behaviors and they comprise the organization, individual and society. Despite the fact that institutions constraint the individual's behavior, they also afford individuals, organizations and groups with the cultural resource to change identities of individuals, society and an organizations.

Given the argument presented in the model by Alford and Friedland on institutional logic, it should be appreciated that individuals within and institution will act in relation the cultures in within the organization. This model affirms that for a partnership to come out as sustainable both parties need to have an understanding of each other and the practices within each institution should be learnt to allow for resultant collaborative efforts, sustainable partnership and development of objectives.

List of References

GLASBERGEN, P. 2011. Understanding partnerships for sustainable development analytically: The ladder of partnership activity as a methodological tool. . Environmental Policy and Governance, 21, 1-13.…