Chapter 3: Collaboration Management in Public Administration: A Theoretical and Empirical Exploration of Mutual Challenges for Governance, Citizens, and Businesses in Modern Network Societies

Two of humankind’s oldest scourges—terrorism and disease—have recently brought the idea of collaboration to the forefront of public debate. For example, the lack of collaboration among various government agencies prior to the attacks of September 11, 2001 was of such an egregious nature that a new Homeland Security umbrella department was formed to ensure a higher degree of cooperation. In China in early 2003, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) was found to have spread far beyond initial reports, a discovery that led in April of that year to the unprecedented step of firing the mayor of Beijing for mishandling the situation. Moreover, experts have said that it is no longer a case of if but when a pandemic of avian flu will hit the human population. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently urged all countries to develop or update their influenza “pandemic preparedness plans” after experts estimated anywhere between 2 and 50 million people could die if a pandemic hits and the world is not prepared.