Production of event security in Germany – empirical findings on perceptions of interorganisational collaboration between various security actors

PurposeThis paper aims to explore interorganisational collaboration on event security in Germany. Therefore, it focusses on perceptions of representatives from emergency and law enforcement agencies (ELEAs) as well as commercial event stewards and security providers (ESSPs) who work together in the area. The following questions are addressed in this paper: how do the actors perceive inter-organisational collaboration on event security? In these actors' view, what factors define collaboration?Design/methodology/approachFor this study, a literature review was carried out on success-critical factors of inter-organisational collaboration at security-related settings. The results have been grouped into categories, which are assigned to sociotechnical core elements. These are the basis of a qualitative content analysis of 47 semi-structured interviews with ELEA and ESSP representatives in the context of 15 major events in Germany.FindingsThe findings support the assumption that interorganisational collaboration on event security theoretically and in the perception of on-site experts emerges as a sociotechnical system within the setting of major events. Successful collaboration is determined by human, technical and organisational factors, which interconnect the collaborating actors and ideally stabilise their work relations.Originality/valueThis article contributes to the literature regarding event and security research. The results provide insights into hitherto under-represented perspectives of stakeholders on collaboration in event security. The sociotechnical category system adds an approach for the systematic analysis of interorganisational security production.