4. Analysis
4.2. Nodes and sub-nodes choice, classification and discussion
4.2.8. Potential Challenges Node
The last node, Potential Challenges, is directly related to the “potential platform’s characteristics” node, because once the respondents started discussing the possibility of using E-Governance as a platform for PPPs they realized that, despite the many benefits the collaboration could bring, it would also involve a multitude of challenges when it comes to its implementation and application. Because most of them shared the same concern, it was decided that the node would only have one subcategory. The sub-node is named “Increased complexity” and it was a common drawback the respondents saw coming together with the platform. Paul du Gay mentioned that an alliance between 2 very complex and big structures could increase “…the overall capacity of the system to deliver, to maintain capacities…”, and more important it could decrease the level of personnel and expertise. He argues that these types of critical changes are extremely difficult to implement and could cause a disruption in the technological area (Appendix 5). Robert Hinnerskov also notes that it is very important to keep in mind that the implementation of the platform should be very specific in its goals and strategies, so that “…it doesn’t become a platform about everything.”
(Appendix 6).
Figure 7 visualizes all the previously discussed points. It pictures the 8 main nodes, with their subcategories, and their relation to the literature review and to the information gathered through the interviews. It can be noted the similarities and the differences between the information in the existing researches and the opinion of the professionals in the PPP domain.
Li te ra tu re
• Civil society's scepticism around the private sector service delivery• Lack of a central PPP department and PPP platform
• Unattractiveness due to mandatory screeneing processes
• Fear over excesive public spending
• No clear rules about tax and VAT
• Limited budget spendings
• Public interest rate lower than the interest rate on the financial markets (Eldrup &Schütze, 2013)
• Potential projects in social and healthcare system
• Potential Infrastructure projects
• Potential projects in the transportation system (InfraPPP World News)
• It is mentioned the lack of a centralized institution or platform (Eldrup
& Schütze, 2013) However there is no extended research or literature on the need for a development platform
• The requirement for municipalities to deposit an amount similar to the construction costs of the project (Eldrup & Schütze, 2013)
• Long-term volatility risk due to the parties' inability to predict the potential issues (World Bank, 2015)
• No two projects will be the same (World Bank, 2015)
• No clear set of rules (Eldrup & Schütze, 2013)
• PPPs help governments become more inventive by giving them access to structures outside the governmental area. They also help to import new talents and skills, and as well create a more diligent working culture(Witters, Marom, & Steinert, 2012)
• The literature review presents an extensive review on E-government and E-governance services
• Mandatory screening processes, the requirement for municipalities to deposit an amount similar to the construction costs of the projects, makes it an unattractive model.(Eldrup & Schütze, 2013)
• E-Governance is perhaps the second revolution in the public management, which may transform not only the way in which most public services are delivered, but also the fundamental relationship between government and citizen (Saxena, 2005).
• There is a lack of information on this point in the current literature
Nod e s
• Current Challenges• Potential Expansion Areas
• Need for a platform
• Potential Platform's Characteristics
• E-Governance Familiarity
• View on E-Governance in PPPs
• Possible Challenges
In te rv ie w s
• Risk allocation• Lack of knowledge
• Lack of experience
• Lack of cooperation
• Lack of a PPP market
• Areas where the private sector has the right set of skills
• Large scale infrastructure projects
• Innovational projects
• International and cross-border projects
• Healthcare system
• Educational system
• Essential for a better cooperation
• Possibility of connection with the private sector
• Development costs reduction
• In charge of the recruitment of the right set of professional competences
• Help the creation of a pipeline of similar projects
• Design models and frameworks for PPP projects
• Create innovation
• Become a connection point between the government, the private sector and the civil society
• Working closely with the digital governmental services
• 80% of the population has digital access
• A means of decreasing bureaucracy
• Improve the project management
• Potential exchange platform for projects and ideas
• Selection gate for potential projects
• Increased complexity
• Implementation difficulties
Need for a platform E-governance Familiarity
to get the percentage of words frequency. The purpose of the tests was to show whether there is a certain idea prevalence in each node, therefore, drawing a pattern for the coding process. The full results can be found in the Appendices. The analysis will not discuss in detail the obtained percentages, because not all the words, in the words frequency lists, are relevant, instead it will take a look at certain summary maps, which create a better visual understanding of the interview results.
If it is to pick the main nodes that would give the most insight for the research question, then it would be the following:
•! Need for a platform
•! E-governance Familiarity
•! Views on E-Governance in PPPs
•! Potential Challenges
Therefore, for these 4 nodes it was created the summary maps of words frequency which is displayed below.
Due to the spheric representation and the difference in sizes based on the words’ frequencies, the words frequency test draws a visual parallel between the literature findings and the answers received through the interviews.
The first pattern displays a clear answer to the question regarding the need for a platform for public-private partnerships. The second pattern is important because it proves that the respondents are familiar with all the aspects of study, including E-governance, despite their professional background. The third pattern shows the key words used by the interviewees in order to express their opinions on using E-Governance in PPPs as a development platform and the last pattern shows their concerns about doing so. The last two images are inter-related and take the study closer to finding the answer to the research question.