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Professor Siv Vangen

BA (Strathclyde) MSc (Strathclyde), PhD (Strathclyde)

Profile summary

  • Central Academic Staff
  • Professor
  • The Faculty of Business & Law
  • The Open University Business School
  • Department for Public Leadership & Social Enterprise
  • siv.vangen

Professional biography

Siv Vangen is Professor of Collaborative Leadership in Department of Public Leadership and Social Enterprise (PuLSE). She joined The Open University Business School in 2002 having previously spent 10 years researching in the field of inter-organizational collaboration and teaching on the International and Executive MBA programme at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. While at the OU, she has taught extensively across the undergraduate, post-graduate and executive progammes and she held various leadership roles including Head of Department for PuLSE (2012 – 2016), Associate Dean, Research, Enterprise and Schoalrship (2016-2021) and Head of the Business School in the Faculty of Business and Law (2021-2024).

Research interests

Siv’s background is in Management Science and she is a leading international researcher known for her cutting edge, award winning research into the governance, leadership and management of inter-organizational collaboration. Her empirical research, undertaken using Research Oriented Action Research and other types of engaged research, spans a variety of collaborative contexts across the public, private and voluntary sectors. It has addressed collaboration across a wide range of areas including health, education, anti-poverty, substance abuse, community development and planning, the environment, careers development, policing, economic development and many more.

Her empirical research has resulted in a body of practice-oriented theory and in particular the Theory of Collaborative Advantage. It informs research across different disciplines including public administration, health and wellbeing, international development, the environment and climate change.

Teaching interests

Siv's teaching interests span general and strategic management with a specific focus on practice based teaching and learning using engaged methods such as action learning and reflective practice. She has specific expertise in the management of inter-organisational collaboration. She has taught extensively at undergraduate and post graduate levels, on the international and senior executive MBAs at Strathclyde University and the Open University and as invited guest lecturer on other European MBAs and Executive Develoment Programmes.

Impact and engagement

During the course of her research, Siv has worked as a facilitator, consultant, advisor and trainer with policy makers and managers involved in a large variety of collaborative situations. She is frequently invited to share her expertise with practitioner, policy and academic audiences in the UK and internationally.

Publications

Developing voluntary sector leadership through open educational resources: a practice perspective (2024)
Jacklin-Jarvis, Carol; Vangen, Siv; Smolovic Jones, Owain; Haslam, Daniel; Mutwarasibo, Fidèle; Britton, Helen and Logan, Kay
Voluntary Sector Review, 15(2) (pp. 332-342)

Windows of Collaborative Opportunity: Consideration of Governance (2018)
Cornforth, Chris; Hayes, John Paul and Vangen, Siv
The Nonprofit Quarterly, 2018(Spring)

A Meeting of Minds (2017-11)
Vangen, Siv
Charity Finance

Culturally diverse collaborations: a focus on communication and shared understanding (2017-07-21)
Vangen, Siv
Public Management Review, 19(3) (pp. 305-325)

Developing Practice-Oriented Theory on Collaboration: A Paradox Lens (2017-02-27)
Vangen, Siv
Public Administration Review, 77(2) (pp. 263-272)

Coping with austerity: innovation via collaboration or retreat to the known? (2017-01)
Diamond, Janet and Vangen, Siv
Public Money & Management, 37(1) (pp. 47-54)

Nonprofit-public collaborations: understanding governance dynamics (2015-08-01)
Cornforth, Chris; Hayes, John Paul and Vangen, Siv
Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 44(4) (pp. 775-795)

Governing cross-sector, inter-organizational collaborations (2015)
Vangen, Siv; Hayes, John Paul and Cornforth, Chris
Public Management Review, 17(9) (pp. 1237-1260)

Managing cultural diversity in collaborations: a focus on management tensions (2014-01-29)
Vangen, Siv and Winchester, Nik
Public Management Review, 16(5) (pp. 686-707)

The Tangled Web: Unraveling the Principle of Common Goals in Collaborations (2012-12)
Vangen, Siv and Huxham, Chris
Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 22(4) (pp. 731-760)

Achieving collaborative advantage: understanding the challenge and making it happen (2006)
Vangen, Siv and Huxham, Chris
Strategic Direction, 22(2) (pp. 3-5)

Doing things collaboratively: realizing the advantage or succumbing to inertia? (2004-05)
Huxham, Chris and Vangen, Siv
Organizational Dynamics, 33(2) (pp. 190-201)

Enacting leadership for collaborative advantage: dilemmas of ideology and pragmatism in the activities of partnership managers (2003-12)
Vangen, Siv and Huxham, Chris
British Journal of Management, 14(Supp.1) (S61-S76)

Researching organizational practice through action research: case studies and design choices (2003-07)
Huxham, Chris and Vangen, Siv
Organizational Research Methods, 6(3) (pp. 383-403)

Nurturing collaborative relations: building trust in interorganizational collaboration (2003-03)
Vangen, Siv and Huxham, Chris
Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 39(1) (pp. 5-31)

Leadership in the shaping and implementation of collaboration agendas: how things happen in a (not quite) joined-up world (2000-12)
Huxham, Chris and Vangen, Siv
Academy of Management Journal, 43(6) (pp. 1159-1175)

Ambiguity, complexity and dynamics in the membership of collaboration (2000)
Huxham, Chris and Vangen, Siv
Human Relations, 53(6) (pp. 771-806)

Creating a TIP: issues in the design of a process for transferring theoretical insight about inter-organisational collaboration into practice (1998)
Huxham, C. S. and Vangen, Siv
International Journal of Public-Private Partnership, 1(1) (pp. 19-42)

Working together, key themes in the management of relationships between public and non-profit organizations (1996)
Huxham, Chris and Vangen, Siv
International Journal of Public Sector Management, 9(7) (pp. 5-17)

Managing to collaborate: the theory and practice of collaborative advantage (2005-02-24)
Huxham, Chris and Vangen, Siv
ISBN : 415339200 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon, UK

Researching inter-organisational collaboration using RO-AR (2019-08-02)
Vangen, Siv
In: Voets, Joris; Keast, Robyn and Koliba, Christopher eds. Networks and Collaboration in the Public Sector: Essential research approaches, methodologies and analytic tools (pp. 125-141)
ISBN : 9781315544939 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : London

Building and using the theory of collaborative advantage (2013-09-24)
Vangen, Siv and Huxham, Chris
In: Keast, Robyn; Mandell, Myrna P. and Agranoff, Robert eds. Network Theory in the Public Sector: Building New Theoretical Frameworks (pp. 51-69)
ISBN : 978-0-415-84395-9 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : New York

Introducing the theory of collaborative advantage (2010-12-21)
Vangen, Siv and Huxham, Chris
In: Osborne, Stephen P. ed. The New Public Govenance? Emerging Perspectives on the Theory and Practice of Public Governance
ISBN : 978-0-415-49463-2 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : London

En teoretisk forståelse av samarbeidssynergi (2009-09-28)
Vangen, Siv and Huxham, Chris
In: Willumsen, Elisabeth ed. Tverrprofesjonelt samarbeid i utdanning og praksis (pp. 67-87)
ISBN : 9788215014401 | Publisher : Universitetsforlaget Oslo | Published : Oslo

Doing things collaboratively: realizing the advantage or succumbing to inertia? (2009)
Huxham, Chris and Vangen, Siv
In: O'Flynn, Janine and Wanna, John eds. Collaborative Governance: A New Era of Public Policy in Australia? (pp. 29-44)
ISBN : 9781921536410 | Publisher : ANU E Press | Published : Canberra

Doing things collaboratively: realising the advantage or succumbing to inertia? (2009)
Huxham, Chris and Vangen, Siv
In: van Zwanenberg, Zoë ed. Leadership in Social Care. Research Highlights in Social Work (pp. 71-87)
ISBN : 978-1-84310-969-3 | Publisher : Jessica Kingsley Publishers | Published : London

En teoretisk forståelse av samarbeidets synergi (2009)
Vangen, Siv and Huxham, Chris
In: Willumsen, Elisabeth ed. Tverrprofesjonelt samarbeid - i praksis og utdanning (pp. 67-87)
ISBN : 978-82-15-01440-1 | Publisher : Universitesforlaget | Published : Oslo

Leadership and partnership in urban governance: evidence from London, Bristol and Glasgow (2004-05-19)
Sweeting, D.; Hambleton, R.; Huxham, C.; Stewart, M. and Vangen, Siv
In: Boddy, M. and Parkinson, M. eds. City matters: competitiveness, cohesion and urban governance (pp. 349-366)
ISBN : 1861344457 | Publisher : Policy Press | Published : Bristol, U.K.

Managing trust in inter-organisational collaboration: conceptualisations and tools (2003-06-25)
Vangen, Siv
In: Hibbert, P. ed. Co-creating emergent Insight: multi-organizational partnerships, alliances and networks (pp. 158-166)
ISBN : 954553802 | Publisher : Graduate School of Business, University of Strathclyde | Published : Glasgow

Collaboration theory for collaboration practice: transfer design principles (2003)
Vangen, Siv
In: Thurston, Wilfreda Enid; Scott, Catherine Mary and Dirk, Kathy eds. Collaboration in Context (pp. 149-159)
ISBN : 9780889532625 | Publisher : Health Promotions Research Group and Institute for Gender Research, University of Calgary | Published : Calgary, Canada

Tensions and dilemmas: how partnership managers lead collaboration (2002)
Vangen, S. and Huxham, C.
In: Purdue, D. and Stewart, M. eds. Understanding Collaboration: international perspectives on theory, method and practice (pp. 45-51)
Publisher : Faculty of the Built Environment, University of the West of England | Published : Bristol, UK

What makes practitioners tick?: understanding collaboration practice and practising collaboration understanding (2001-12)
Huxham, Chris and Vangen, Siv
In: Genefke, Jens and Macdonald, Frank eds. Effective collaboration: managing the obstacles to success (pp. 1-16)
ISBN : 333948106 | Publisher : Palgrave Macmillan | Published : Basingstoke, UK

What makes partnerships work? (2000-11-23)
Vangen, Siv and Huxham, Chris
In: Osborne, Stephen ed. Public-Private Partnerships: theory and practice in international perspective. Routledge Advances in Management and Business Studies (pp. 293-310)
ISBN : 978-0-415-21268-7 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : London, U.K. and New York, NY, U.S.

New perspectives on leadership in collaboration (1999)
Huxham, C. and Vangen, Siv
In: Schruijer, Sandra ed. Multoorganisational Partnerships and Co-operative Strategy (pp. 247-252)
ISBN : 9789036198202 | Publisher : Dutch University Press | Published : Tilburg, Netherlands

Creating a TIP: issues in the design of a process for transferring theoretical insight about inter-organisational collaboration into practice (1997)
Vangen, Siv and Huxham, C.
In: Montanheiro, L.; Heigh, R. H. and Morris, D. S. eds. Understanding Public and Private Sector Partnerships (pp. 78-94)
ISBN : 9780863396502 | Publisher : Sheffield Hallam University Press | Published : Sheffield, U.K.

Managing inter-organisational relationships (1996)
Huxham, Chris and Vangen, Siv
In: Osborne, Stephen P. ed. Managing in the Voluntary Sector: A Handbook for Managers in Voluntary and Non-profit Making Organizations. Management and Finance in Public Services Series (pp. 202-216)
ISBN : 9780412718403 | Publisher : International Thompson Business Press | Published : London, U.K. and Boston, MA, U.S.

Local community groups combating poverty: a focus on collaboration (1995)
Vangen, Siv
In: Bowen, Ken ed. In at the Deep End: MSc student projects in community operational research (pp. 47-65)
ISBN : 9781900374002 | Publisher : Community Operational Research Unit, Northern College | Published : Barnsley, U.K.

Investigating effective collaboration (1994)
Vangen, Siv and Barr, C.
In: Ritchie, Charles; Taket, A. and Bryant, Jim eds. Community Works: 26 case studies showing community operational research in action (pp. 182-186)
ISBN : 9780863394577 | Publisher : Sheffield Hallam University Press | Published : Sheffield, U.K.

Organizational Collaboration: Themes and Issues (2011-05-10)
Di Domenico, MariaLaura; Vangen, Siv; Winchester, Nik; Boojihawon, Dev Kumar and Mordaunt, Jill eds.
ISBN : 978-0-415-67140-8 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon, U.K and New York, NY, U.S.

Collaboration and the governance of public services delivery (2017-11-08)
Vangen, Siv; Potter, Karen and Jacklin-Jarvis, Carol
In : Symposium on the policy and reform trajectory of public services in the UK and Japan (8-9 Nov 2017, Japan)

Researching Leadership for Collaborative Advantage (2016)
Vangen, Siv
In : Third Collective Leadership Workshop: Methodological Challenges in Collective Leadership Research (29 Sep - 1 Oct 2016, New York City)

Understanding Leadership in Public Collaborative Context (2015)
Vangen, Siv and McGuire, Michael
In : International Research Society for Public Management (IRSPM 2015) (30 Mar - 1 Apr 2015, University of Birmingham)

Understanding, investigating and theorizing inter-organizational collaborations: a focus on paradox (2012-09)
Vangen, Siv
In : BAM 2012: Management Research Revisted: Prospects for Theory and Practice (11-13 Sep 2012, Cardiff, UK)

Tensions: a challenge to governance and cross-sector partnerships (2011)
Hayes, John Paul; Cornforth, Chris and Vangen, Siv
In : 18th Multi-Organisational Partnerships Alliances and Networks (4-6 Jul 2011, Glasgow)

Governance in cross-sector partnerships involving third sector organisations (2011)
Hayes, John Paul; Cornforth, Chris and Vangen, Siv
In : 25th British Academy of Management Conference (13-15 Sep 2011, Birmingham)

Teaching collaboration: Theory, principles and practices using games and simulations (2009-09-17)
Emberson, Caroline; Gould, Nick; Hearne, Pam; Huxham, Chris; Knight, Louise; Vangen, Siv and Winchester, Nik
In : British Academy of Management Annual Conference (15-17 Sep 2009, Brighton, University of Brighton)

An exploration of culture in cross-national collaborations (2007)
Vangen, Siv and Winchester, Nik
In : British Academy of Management annuan conference (11-13 Sep 2007, Warwick)

Managing culture in cross-national collaborations (2007)
Vangen, Siv and Winchester, Nik
In : EURAM annual conference (16-18 May 2007, Paris)

A framework for managing aims in collaborations (2006)
Vangen, Siv and Huxham, Chris
In : Academy of Management (14-16 Aug 2006, Georgia)

Aima in competition: a framework for understanding and managing collaborative purpose (2006)
Vangen, S. and Huxham, C.
In : 22nd EGOS Colloquium (6-8 Jul 2006, Bergen)

An exploration of the complexity of goals in inter-organizational collaboration (2004)
Vangen, Siv and Huxham, C
In : British Academy of Management (30 Aug - 01 Sep 2004, St Andrews, Scotland)

Research design choices for Action Research: comparative case studies from research on inter-organizational collaboration (2001)
Huxham, C. and Vangen, Siv
In : European Group of Organizational Studies (Jul 2001, Lyon)