Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) The document discusses key dimensions of leadership that are important for successful public-private partnerships (P3s). Specifically, it emphasizes the importance of: 1) understanding the unique cultures of each partner and the partnership itself, 2) building trust between partners, 3) identifying who constitutes the "public" and how the partnership affects their interests, and 4) creating a shared space for partners to collaborate effectively. The shared space helps foster trust and allows the partnership to communicate seamlessly, break down barriers, and develop innovative solutions.

1. Understanding Dimensions of Leadership
that Impact Public-Private Partnerships
Robert A. Stalzer, FAICP
Professor of Practice
Virginia Tech
School of Public and International Affairs
Executive Education
rstalzer@vt.edu

2. Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)
P3’s Don’t Succeed Without Leadership
• Understanding the culture
of each partner and
recognizing the unique
culture of the partnership
itself
• Building and sustaining
trust at all levels of the
partnership, especially at
the executive level
• Identifying the public and
how the partnership affects
their interests
• Creating a shared space for
the partners to successfully
complete the work of the
partnership
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Leading a partnership is inherently difficult. Leading a
partnership comprised of dissimilar organizations is
even harder.

3. Publicness
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• Identifying the public and
how the partnership affects
their interests. Who is the
public?
• Terms we hear a lot are:
• Public good
• Public value
• Public benefit
Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)
P3’s Don’t Succeed
Without Leadership

4. Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)
To help answer the question “Who is the public?”
We need to consider that
P3s (like most developments) are
viewed
• Personally
• Politically
• Publicly
And knowing what’s important to whom is key:
• Creating economic value
• Building community
• Delivering services effectively
• Scope, schedule, cost (initial/life-cycle)
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5. Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)
Public Ownership – We Need To Think Bigger…
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• Comprehensive
Plan
• Area Plans
• Capital
Improvement
Program
• Bonds and
referenda
Reston
Adopted Plan Policies
• Land Use Mix and
Intensity
• Transportation
• Environmental
Stewardship
• Urban Parks, Recreation,
and Cultural Facilities
• Public Facilities
• Urban Design

6. Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)
P3s are Political
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Virginia is Getting Soaked By
Midtown Tunnel Deal
…“We got jammed with that project,” said
longtime Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim, adding
that local officials were excluded from
negotiations as top leaders worked with the
private firms.
“The whole idea was to keep the political
people out of this business deal, that they’d
just sort of muddy the water,” he said. “It
turns out there was no check on the guys
who were trying to strike the deal.”…
http://hamptonroads.com/2015/10/virginia-getting-soaked-midtown-tunnel-deal
• Elections and Election
Cycles
• At-Large or Districts
• Issues and Tensions
• Community and
regional
• Out in-the-open or
behind closed doors
• Technical Merit vs.
Political Perspective

7. Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)
P3s Are Personal to Somebody
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• Elected Officials
• Planning Commission
• District land use committees (typically routine
plan review)
• Task forces (typically special studies, often
high profile)
• Community groups, HOAs, associations,
neighborhood councils, community coalitions
and federations, Chambers of Commerce, non-
profits
• Advocacy and special interest groups
• Users, toll payers
• Adjoining and nearby property owners
• Media
• Unions and contractors
• Government agencies

8. Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)
Including the Public
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• Making sure that all perspectives are heard
and acknowledged
• Transparency is important (“Cone of
Procurement silence”)
• Make it easier, not harder, for people to
access, connect, and participate fairly in the
decision-making process
• Outlier opinions (those who are disgruntled,
frustrated, and disdainful of the “system”)
may indicate undetected concerns

9. Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)
By identifying the public and
how the partnership affects
their interests
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• We can leverage the public’s knowledge, thereby making
the project better and more successful
• If the public trusts the process, they will support the
efforts and decisions made
• Elected Officials are often limited by their terms of office,
the public plays a role for the entire duration of the
project—conceptualization, funding, design, construction,
and operation
• Consensus through public involvement will reduce costs
and minimize frustration and community cynicism

10. Shared Space
• Creating a shared space for the
partners to successfully complete
the work of the partnership is key
• Shared space helps to foster the
trust and camaraderie that
characterize high performing
relationships and partnerships
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Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)

11. Who’s in the Shared Space?
• Executive leadership
• Planning and urban design
• Finance
• Architecture
• Engineering –civil, structural, etc.
• Project management
• Construction management
• Facilities management and maintenance
• Real estate
• Legal
• Communications and public/community relations
• Contracts and procurement
• “End user” expertise
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Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)

12. P3 Boundaries Can Be Challenging
• Public – proprietary & regulatory
• Private
• Partnership
Ethics, Structure, Accountability, Auditing,
Permeable/impermeable
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Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)

13. Shared Space - Emergency Management
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Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)

14. Shared Space – Wiehle Garage Bullpen
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Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)

15. Shared Space breeds trust, lessening
vulnerability, causing greater boldness which
allows the partnership to:
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Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)
• Communicate more seamlessly
• Foster new ideas more quickly
• Break down organizational silos and
barriers more rapidly
• Spark inquiries that lead to innovative
solutions more naturally
• Allow the unique culture of the
partnership to develop more readily
• However, as leaders in shared space we must be
comfortable with less hierarchy and more
ambiguity, i.e., more risk

16. Shared Space
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Understanding Dimensions of Leadership that Impact Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)
• “Where are you in the
boat?”
• “We’re all wearing the
same shirt.”