Building Partnerships

At the heart of any public undertaking—be it a new policy initiative or an infrastructure “megaproject”—there exists a network of stakeholders, each bringing their own goals, resources, and preconceptions to the table. The cases in this section ask students to think critically about the relationships between these partners and especially how they are forged. From public-private enterprises to cross-agency coordination, emergency preparedness to micro-lending, the scenarios at play illustrate both the potential successes and inherent challenges of working across boundaries.