ABSTRACT
This chapter draws on collaboration, boundary spanning, complexity and leadership literatures in order to explore collaborative boundary spanning, boundary objects and transdisciplinary knowledge processes. It explores the practice and capabilities that underpin engagement with critical actors in the collaboration space, e.g. academics, citizens, community bodies and others. The chapter highlights the responsibility of practitioners, in this case cross-boundary facilitators, to access the research literature, both research and strategic, on a broad range of public management challenges and themes, and to translate the implications for practice. The use of community and governance forums with mixed groups of stakeholders to build and inform public policy, and to co-create, co-design, co-produce and deliver service outcomes has grown, and with it the need to recognise the value of the skilled cross-boundary facilitator in the complex process. The practice elements involved large-scale ongoing facilitation, interventions and capability development, both internally and externally with stakeholders and community.
