Understanding leadership roles and competencies for public-private partnership

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the roles of public-private partnership (PPP) leaders and the vital skills and competencies that PPP leaders should possess to ensure the success of PPP projects in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted an exploratory qualitative research design using an in-depth interview technique. Ten informants who were involved in the PPP projects from the public and the private sectors participated in this study. Data gathered from the in-depth interview were analysed using the constant comparative method. Findings The findings of this study show that among the main roles of PPP leaders are building a collaborative culture, leading and influencing the partnership process by developing trust and encouraging commitment and fairness. Key competencies were sensitivity of the cross-cultural issues between the public and the private sector, communication and PPP technical skills. Originality/value This paper enriches the existing body of knowledge on Malaysia's PPP with regard to PPP leadership roles and their competencies.