| Increasingly, public and private organizations are collaborating to address critical public purposes. Cross-sector, or public-private partnerships (PPPs) represent an innovative, and ideally, a uniquely effective way of delivering public programs and services. As varied types of PPPs exist, a fundamental challenge in optimizing the success of PPPs is to understand their complexity and variation: what exactly are PPPs? Towards this end, I used theory, archival data, and key informant interview data to develop and refine an exploratory typology of PPPs in the specific field of healthcare. The typology is based on the core dimensions of these partnerships, which I suggest include, at a minimum: strategic intent, form, and function. Strategic intent, and particularly, its loftiness component, emerged as being an essential characteristic that may define and distinguish PPPs in healthcare. This research will primarily serve as a platform for further research, but also makes immediate contributions to stakeholders in practice and policy. |
