Collaborative governance is becoming an increasingly significant tool in public policy and management, and it is attracting growing academic interest globally. Numerous studies on collaborative governance have been conducted worldwide. However, these existing studies have some shortcomings. Research is mostly conducted through case studies in many countries, such as Japan, and there are few overall frameworks. In the U.S., although the existing research provides several overall frameworks, these are insufficient because they do not incorporate findings based on the latest research results.

To fill this gap, this study extends an existing U.S. framework for collaborative governance by incorporating the latest research implications. Specifically, it transforms “A Model of Collaborative Governance” published by Ansell and Gash in the U.S. in 2008 into the New Collaborative Governance Model. For this purpose, this study systematically reviews 117 papers published in the U.S. since 2009 (after the Model of Collaborative Governance was published) based on the PRISMA statement and qualitatively integrates the implications derived from the review by using NVivo, a qualitative data analysis software.

Consequently, the Model of Collaborative Governance was updated based on the integrated research findings in the reviewed literature. The New Collaborative Governance Model comprises the following components: (1) antecedents; (2) starting condition; (3) collaborative structure, including collaborative networks; (4) collaborative interaction; (5) collaborative capacity; (6) collaborative solution design, decision-making, and implementation; (7) intermediate outcomes; (8) outcomes; (9) accountability (evaluation and external legitimacy); (10) external factors; (11) adaptation and sustainability; (12) facilitative leadership and (13) institutional design. Similarly, the subcomponents connected to each component were added. Several components and subcomponents have implications, conditions, etc., for “collaborative innovation.”

This research result is significant because the New Collaborative Governance Model incorporates major themes from recent research on “upstream issues,” such as the structure of collaboration and the process of cultivating capacity. The Model of Collaborative Governance, on the other hand, mainly focuses on collaborative interactions, which involve the process of building relationships between collaborative actors and a few other themes regarding upstream issues.

The other significant aspect is that “downstream issues,” such as outcomes, accountability, evaluation, and external legitimacy, are rarely addressed in studies before the Model of Collaborative Governance, but these have become a major theme of recent research. The New Collaborative Governance Model thus includes various components and subcomponents related to downstream issues.

Practitioners can also ensure successful collaborative governance by following the components and subcomponents of the New Collaborative Governance Model.

* The full paper will detail the components and sub-components of the New Collaborative Governance Model, their relationships, detailed explanations, etc. and especially focus on the collaborative innovation.

* This research paper has been published in Japanese as part of the content of my book since March 31, 2024. Except for Japanese, there are no plans to publish this paper in any other language.

* This abstract is edited by Editage for English language proofreading.

This paper undertakes a systematic review of the extant literature on multi-actor collaboration within the perspective of governance network. The primary objectives are to achieve a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge, unveil critical lacunae in the existing scholarship, and illuminate potential avenues for future research endeavours in this domain. This paper presents a systematic literature review that analyses 65 academic articles retrieved from the Scopus database. The review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, ensuring a rigorous and transparent approach. Extracted data from each article is organized and documented in a structured spreadsheet format. This facilitates the systematic categorization of findings based on both descriptive and thematic criteria. The "who-how-what" framework serves as a guiding heuristic to identify and delineate the key dimensions of collaborative efforts among multiple actors within vertical and horizontal governance arrangements, as they emerge throughout the reviewed literature. The results reveal significant growth in this field over the past two decades, spanning diverse sectors and countries. However, the research highlights certain limitations, including partial involvement of multi-actors and a dearth of comprehensive studies across different organizational levels (supranational, national, intra-national) and sectors (public, private, non-governmental, international organizations, and communities). Qualitative research with empirical designs predominates due to the complex and dynamic nature of collaborative interactions. Notably, while sectors such as health, environment, and water have received considerable attention, areas like transportation, especially aviation remain relatively unexplored, offering promising avenues for future research. The original contribution of this study lies in the presentation of a framework that elucidates the governance arrangement of multi-actor collaboration. This framework encompasses the actors involved, the levers and mechanisms of collaboration, as well as the purposes and contextual factors influencing collaboration. It is anticipated that this framework will facilitate more structured investigations into this concept in future research endeavours.

The concept of trust in network governance is pivotal, particularly in contexts where legal instruments are insufficient, and public managers must rely on trust to enhance network effectiveness. Trust, defined as the "stable positive expectation" of another's intentions and motives to refrain from opportunistic behavior, plays a critical role in fostering collaboration, reducing costs, and ensuring resource and information sharing among network stakeholders. High levels of trust contribute to network stability and the formation of long-term, resourceful relationships, ultimately supporting societal cohesion and the social contract between governments and citizens. The absence of trust can lead to societal fragmentation, corruption, and weakened institutional structures, highlighting its importance for social cohesion, economic prosperity, and democratic functioning.

Establishing trust within networks presents a significant challenge due to the complex and often conflicting interests of diverse stakeholders. Public managers must employ strategic management approaches to cultivate trust actively. Despite rigorous efforts, trust remains an elusive state within networks and cannot be presumed, requiring continuous cultivation and strategic attention. The literature on public administration and management has explored trust as a crucial element for network effectiveness through various methodologies, including structural equation modeling, Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), and Social Network Analysis (SNA). However, a systematic review identifying and analysing the different elements characterizing trust within the public administration literature is lacking. This paper aims to fill this gap by conducting a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed academic articles on trust and networks within the public administration field.

The methodology follows the PRISMA diagram to ensure transparency, comprehensive reporting, and replicability. Studies included in the review adhere to specific criteria: trust defined as per Klijn et al. (2010), analysis within a network context, peer-reviewed journal articles in public administration, publications in English, and up to the year 2023. The search was conducted using Scopus and Web of Science databases, with a broad search string to capture all relevant network experiences. The initial search yielded 1142 records, with 144 screened in full text. After excluding papers that did not meet the trust definition or network context, 45 studies were included in the review.

Preliminary findings underscore trust's critical role in influencing network outcomes, resolving conflicts, and ensuring mutual benefits. Trust fosters collaborative behaviors and positive expectations, enhancing the network's effectiveness in addressing challenges. The review also reveals a dynamic relationship between trust and other network determinants. Trust correlates positively with network management activities, suggesting that effective management can cultivate trust, which in turn, reinforces management efforts. Additionally, trust building within networks is recognized as an investment with associated costs, requiring organizations to balance resource allocation and control mechanisms strategically. This systematic review provides a comprehensive understanding of trust's role within networks, its direct and indirect effects on network performance, and its interaction with other network conditions. It highlights the need for continuous efforts to cultivate trust and strategic management to enhance network governance effectiveness.