Closing the Gaps in Public Private Partnerships in Emergency Management

Abstract

There are many differences between entities in the public and private sectors engaged in emergency management: vision, mission, goals, and objectives are only a few. To develop workable public private partnerships requires an understanding of these differences. This understanding will then provide a foundation for establishing unambiguous agreements within which each sector's roles and responsibilities are clear, and within which all entities can be successful. This chapter explores the differences between public and private sector entities, which can create gaps in understanding and communication, comparing and contrasting these differences; then, it evaluates ways the resulting gaps between entities and within public private partnerships can be closed. Comparison of the respective backgrounds and perspectives provides the material necessary to complete a gap analysis. Anecdotal information is provided that illustrates how the differences between public and private sector entities support, hinder, or manifest in public private partnerships.