A Reliance Typology of Collaborative Governance Platforms: Findings From a Comparative Study

Collaborative governance has been discussed extensively in the public administration and management literatures, but there has been limited focus on structure and on the platforms supporting ongoing efforts. This article explores thirty collaborative groups over a 12-year period, using surveys, interviews, financial reports, and other data. The study proposes a typology of platforms based on their reliance on stakeholder boards, staff, or partners. The typology reveals implications related to the context, strengths, and weaknesses of different platforms, which can assist with their design, evaluation, and administration.