ABSTRACT
This chapter reports research carried out in Pittsburgh during 1998 as part of a larger comparative study of strategy and partnership in economic development in European and North American cities and regions (Jacobs 1999). The aim here is to identify the characteristics of selected local partnerships and to discuss the analysis and evaluation of collaborative initiatives. In Pittsburgh, there are many diverse regional and local partnerships. However, this chapter concentrates on local initiatives that are difficult to evaluate because of their variety and organizational complexity. To promote a better understanding of these partnerships, a typology is presented that can be used in the evaluation of community programmes. The evaluation reveals the dynamic aspects of complex programmes and initiatives that bring together stakeholder groups with diverse agendas.
