ABSTRACT
Inter-organisational and cross-sector boundary management, policy and practice are confronted by a complex tapestry of boundaries—real, manufactured and variously constructed through the lenses of key actors. The means of coordination in this mode of governance—network governance—is materially different from that in markets and hierarchies, and its defining characteristics are the source of boundary challenges not encountered within intra-organisational forms of management, particularly in terms of number, diversity and fluctuation. The dissimilarities between organisations and sectors are magnified through the differences in the performance management, accountability and scrutiny systems in place to oversee them. Public organisations are usually the subject of comprehensive and sometimes ‘oppressive’ systems of accountability and oversight. Public agencies are highly prescribed in their duties, legal responsibilities, decision-making structures, financial systems and accountability structures, whereas private and third sectors operate within different system of regulation, legal and financial frameworks.
