What are the connections between collaboration values and communication practices? An investigation exploring collaborators’ perceptions of supports and constraints in collaboration practice

Abstract

Interorganisational collaboration is often proposed as an ambitious and democratic method to address complex societal problems, yet it faces criticism for its perceived inefficiency. While this critique questions the effectiveness of interorganisational collaborations to achieve collective goals, little attention is awarded to the variety of impacts brought by members’ possibilities to communicate. With this study, I aim to enhance the understanding of interorganisational collaboration by exploring their members’ perceptions of how communication practices influence their ability to generate collaboration value. Eleven members of a Swedish interorganisational collaboration were interviewed, and the material was subjected to thematic analysis. The analysis revealed three overarching collaboration values: monitoring, networking, and empowering. By highlighting the communicational support, constraints, and interconnections of these values, the study offers insights into the communicational challenges and potentials of generating societal impact in fair and effective manners. These insights are valuable for practitioners involved in interorganisational collaborations and for guiding future research inquiries.