Fostering meaningful partnerships in public–private partnerships: innovations in partnership design and process management to create value

Abstract

While public–private partnerships have become increasingly popular for delivering large-scale public infrastructure around the world, a common critique is that the structure of the relationship is typically more akin to contracting out than a truly meaningful collaboration between the partners. In this paper we aim to demonstrate how innovative public–private partnership models can be designed to deepen cooperation and deliver project outcomes that are better than any one partner could achieve on their own. To support our argument, we analyze the case study of a novel partnership between the Toronto District School Board and a condominium developer to redevelop a public high school in Toronto. Our results show that a process management orientation to partnership can build trust between the partners, effectively share project risks, and foster the public support necessary to realize controversial projects.