The IBM Center for The Business of Government has published research findings by (iSchool) Professor Steven Sawyer regarding how multi-organizational networks can collaborate to address complex public challenges.
The report is entitled “Designing Collaborative Networks: Lessons Learned from Public Safety.” IBM characterizes it as offering “practical advice to public managers and political leaders who are addressing complex public challenges through multiorganizational networks.”
Sawyer, who also is associate dean for research and doctoral programs at the iSchool, was a principal researcher on the project along with Jane Fedorowicz of Bentley University. Also on the project team as research associates were iSchool graduate student Robert Schrier and iSchool adjunct instructor Joseph Treglia, who has a background in law enforcement and criminal justice. The study was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation.
Key goals of the research were to help agencies realize the value of joining together to design, develop and deploy information and communications technologies to support policing, criminal justice, public safety and homeland security, the authors note. The research examined two main questions about cross-agency communications and information sharing; why collaborations occur in some places and not others; and what makes public safety collaboration successful.
