Administrator's personal considerations determine forms of collaboration
Personal considerations largely determine the forms of collaboration that administrators undertake with other organisations. Personal convictions and motives are of great importance, alongside more context-dependant factors. Personal motives can be: power, autonomy, wanting to be the best, fear, or personal rapport. Rational or business motives play a much more limited role. These are the conclusions of Wilfrid Opheij and Edwin Kaats who graduated together on April 25 from the University of Tilburg. As part of their research, Opheij and Kaats interviewed more than fifty administrators from the care and housing sectors, each with a reputation for engaging in collaboration
Proposition
What are the major considerations for administrators when entering into collaboration?
Description
The interviewees worked, among others, in the healthcare sector, housing corporations and construction firms. Administrators at local or provincial levels of government were also interviewed. These interviews revealed that the interviewees were inclined to decide on where to concentrate their energy on the grounds of personal motives rather than based on rational considerations. Rational arguments are, in many cases, less important factors in embarking on cooperation with others than whether or not the initiative appeals to them, or if the administrator considers it pleasant or important that there is a good rapport with the prospective partners. The person and the functionary cannot, therefore, be seen as separate entities.
Conclusions
- An administrator's personal considerations and interests often play an important role when collaborating with others;
- Considerations such as power, autonomy, engagement, fear, contrition, trust and individual outlook all exert influence on the alliances that administrators enter into;
- Rational arguments form only 15 percent of the decision on whether to enter into collaboration;
- There is evidence of a 'science of leadership' based on implicit rules;
- Within collaborations, administrators play the role of 'binding strategist', 'flexible motivator', 'charming seducer' and 'patient matcher'.
Project finished
25/04/2008
Researcher
dr. W. Opheij en dr. E. Kaats
Article info
ISBN: 9789035229884
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