Theoretical background:
Inter-organisational collaboration is the principal condition for effective functioning and development of public sector organisations, the good example of which is public safety. This is because of the complexity and specifics of tasks realised in this area, dynamics of changes, and legal regulations. In order for collaboration to be effective it must be based upon honesty, commitment, and transparent rules. These factors build the level of Inter-organisational trust.
On the other hand, the collaboration process consists of periods of more or less intense relations. These changes in time shape the features of relations and their level within Inter-organisational collaboration. One may assume that higher frequency of collaboration should foster building of trust between organisations. However, potential occurrence of such factors as negative experiences, asymmetry of dependency, or lack of mutual respect have a reverse effect.
The correlations between collaboration frequency, experience in relations, and Inter-organisational trust have not been studied in the subject literature so far. This article will constitute a basis of filling this research gap on the basis of research conducted in the public safety management system in Poland.
Research aim:
The aim of this article is to study how interdependence of frequency, experience, and trust affect effective inter-organisational collaboration.
Methods:
The following research methods were applied in the article:
1. Desk research, including: analysis of international literature using such databases as Scopus, and ISI Web of Knowledge.
2. Questionnaire research conducted among 480 units, which performed actions related to public safety in May 2015 using the CATI method.
The level of inter-organisational trust was measured using the following parameters: commitment, honesty, transparency of the rules of action. In turn, the collaboration frequency was specified on the basis of the frequency of consultations, information transferring, and mutual aid. The existing experience in inter-organisational collaboration was also taken into account in the analyses.
The results of the research provided in this paper were obtained as part of the scholarly project entitled: “Coordination, communication, and trust as factors of effective inter-organisational collaboration within the public safety system”, financed by the funds of the National Science Centre allocated on the basis of the decision No. DEC-2012/07/D/HS4/00537.
Key findings:
This article presents the specificity of inter-organisational trust in the public safety management system. The general level of trust in this scope was evaluated and next it was studied how it changes under the influence of changes in the frequency of interactions and experience in collaboration. As a result, the existing connections between the studied parameters, namely: inter-organisational trust, collaboration frequency, and experience in this scope were indentified.
I4 - Trust-based Management in Public Sector. In Public Managers We Trust?
