Collaboration Across Administrative Boundaries in the Transformation of Public Space

Abstract

Cities increasingly face the need to transform public spaces. Given the complex and cross-cutting nature of these transformations, the importance of collaboration is often emphasized. However, no studies so far have opened up the black box of collaboration between civil servants from different municipal departments in the transformation of public space. This study addressed this gap by analyzing the collaboration between actors from two municipal departments involved in the transformation of the unique and complex case of the Dakpark in the Dutch city of Rotterdam. Through this analysis, the study provides valuable insights into the dynamics and challenges of intra-organizational collaboration in complex urban transformation projects. The findings reveal a critical imbalance between inter- and intra-organizational collaboration, with an overemphasis on external efforts often undermining internal collaboration. This imbalance is attributed to the absence of formal frameworks necessary to establish, guide, and sustain effective intra-organizational processes. The study also highlights the important role of individual and process-level factors. This analysis shows that despite a decentralized and subtask-oriented organizational structure, strong interpersonal connections, trust, and a collegial atmosphere facilitated effective collaboration across established administrative boundaries. These interactions fostered a sense of collective interest and contributed to the creation of a psychologically safe environment. These dynamics enabled open communication, transparency, and effective problem-solving, demonstrating the essential role of fostering trust and collaboration.

Keywords: Urban Transformation, public space management, collaboration, intra-organizational collaboration, common objectives