Samarbejdsdrevet innovation i den offentlige sektor

The Danish welfare society is facing a series of complex societal issues, which the public authorities cannot solve single-handedly. To face this challenge in a strategic manner, the authorities can benefit by establishing and managing policy networks, and hereby nourish the creation of collaborative innovation. Thus the aim of this thesis is to investigate what impact authorities, as meta-governing actors, and policy networks, as self-governing actors, have on the creation of such collaborative innovation. The thesis concludes that the two investigated policy networks and the meta-governance have a limited impact on the creation of collaborative innovation. Some of the approved ideas can potentially create collaborative innovation, but the policy networks cannot be held accountable, and therefore it is found that the investigated policy networks do not fulfil their potential. Furthermore it is concluded that even though the exercised meta-governance do not hinder the creation of collaborative innovation, it also does not cultivate it. The thesis’ aim is to investigate the problem through a theoretical guided case study. Therefore the investigation departs from the thesis’ theoretical framework, which is constructed of theory regarding: network, innovation and learning. The theoretical framework succeeds in explaining how to comprehend and create collaborative innovation, and how this can be done in policy networks and through meta-governance.