The role of the individual’s perception

Abstract

As Dutch Urban Development (UDM) and Partnering research seem to somewhat disconnectedly explore each other’s fields, this thesis attempts to join both domains by gaining insights into factors that promote the emergence of partnering relations between individuals working in Dutch Urban Development Projects (UDPs). Applying a practice-based approach, data from ten semi-structured interviews was translated into case narratives that provide insights into the lived experience of Dutch UDPs which, after the understanding of this thesis, can be considered partnering projects. By analysing the case narratives, it was revealed that the construction and negotiation of partnering was predominantly led by the public managers whereas the choice of means depended on the underlying project circumstances, expected benefits and the individuals understanding of partnering. Analysing the interpersonal learning process, the individual learning processes prior to the project and learnings about the partners behaviour during the first meetings and challenging situations were determined as crucial to the emergence of partnering relations. Moreover, most formal partnering components seemed to have an overall positive but also paradoxical effects depending on the project and the individual. To overcome paradoxes, joint problem solving seemed the most commonly applied and favoured management practice during partnering. Applying sensemaking to collected case data, it is concluded that named factors and their effect differed depending on the individual’s perception. Based on a conceptual model, it is explained that factors promoted the emergence of partnering when they were perceived as in harmony to the individuals understanding of partnering. Ultimately, picking up on the suggestion of Kadefors (2004) to apply trust theory to study partnering, it is suggested that the individuals starting level of trust, the individual’s choice and ability to trust, the human preference for reciprocity as well as the individuals abilities, benevolence and integrity should be considered as factors when researching the emergence of partnering.