Page 35 - Štremfel, Urška, and Maša Vidmar (eds.). 2018. Early School Leaving: Cooperation Perspectives. Ljubljana: Pedagoški inštitut.
P. 35
the emergence, importance and challenges of a cross-sectorial approach to esl
In theory, cross-sectoral partnerships not only “enable public agen-
cies to tackle social problems more effectively by unlocking the benefits of
comparative advantage” (Andrews & Entwistle, 2010, p. 680), but by en-
hancing reciprocity and mutual (policy and organisational) learning, they
also build future cross-sectoral problem-solving capacity and lead to better
policy designs and more efficient policy implementation (Innes & Booher,
2003; Tosun & Lang, 2013). Pooling resources helps to enhance innova-
tion potential by making the most of complementary strengths and syner-
gistic effects of diverse competencies and knowledge on the part of differ-
ent actors (Gazley & Brudney, 2007; Grudinschi et al., 2013; Heath, 2007;
Herranz, 2008; Jupp, 2000; Lasker, Weiss & Miller, 2001; Selsky & Parker,
2005; Soininen, 2014). Accordingly, Gray (1989, p. 5) defines cross-sectoral
cooperation as a “Process through which parties who see different aspects
of a problem can constructively explore their differences and search for
solutions that go beyond their own limited vision of what is possible”.
Various studies (Krott & Hasanagas, 2006, p. 556; Page et al., 2015;
Pollitt, 2013, Stead, 2008, p. 140), in addition to achieving common goals
and solving policy problems, synthesised and mentioned several other fac-
tors that help understand the motives, need and importance of cross-sec-
toral cooperation:
- promoting synergies (win-win solutions) between sectors
- reducing duplication in the policymaking process, both horizon-
tally and vertically
- promoting consistency between policies in different sectors (hori-
zontal) and at various levels of decision-making (vertical)
- giving a stronger focus to the achievement of a government’s over-
all goals rather than the achievement of narrower sector-oriented
goals
- helping to promote innovation in policy development and
implementation
- encouraging greater understanding of the effects of policies on
other sectors
- increased efficacy in actual policy-guided outcomes
- make better use of scarce resources
- public value creation
35
In theory, cross-sectoral partnerships not only “enable public agen-
cies to tackle social problems more effectively by unlocking the benefits of
comparative advantage” (Andrews & Entwistle, 2010, p. 680), but by en-
hancing reciprocity and mutual (policy and organisational) learning, they
also build future cross-sectoral problem-solving capacity and lead to better
policy designs and more efficient policy implementation (Innes & Booher,
2003; Tosun & Lang, 2013). Pooling resources helps to enhance innova-
tion potential by making the most of complementary strengths and syner-
gistic effects of diverse competencies and knowledge on the part of differ-
ent actors (Gazley & Brudney, 2007; Grudinschi et al., 2013; Heath, 2007;
Herranz, 2008; Jupp, 2000; Lasker, Weiss & Miller, 2001; Selsky & Parker,
2005; Soininen, 2014). Accordingly, Gray (1989, p. 5) defines cross-sectoral
cooperation as a “Process through which parties who see different aspects
of a problem can constructively explore their differences and search for
solutions that go beyond their own limited vision of what is possible”.
Various studies (Krott & Hasanagas, 2006, p. 556; Page et al., 2015;
Pollitt, 2013, Stead, 2008, p. 140), in addition to achieving common goals
and solving policy problems, synthesised and mentioned several other fac-
tors that help understand the motives, need and importance of cross-sec-
toral cooperation:
- promoting synergies (win-win solutions) between sectors
- reducing duplication in the policymaking process, both horizon-
tally and vertically
- promoting consistency between policies in different sectors (hori-
zontal) and at various levels of decision-making (vertical)
- giving a stronger focus to the achievement of a government’s over-
all goals rather than the achievement of narrower sector-oriented
goals
- helping to promote innovation in policy development and
implementation
- encouraging greater understanding of the effects of policies on
other sectors
- increased efficacy in actual policy-guided outcomes
- make better use of scarce resources
- public value creation
35
