Where Have I Seen You Before? Networks, Trust and Reciprocity as a Source of Collaboration in the Public Service

ABSTRACT Although some studies focus on how bureaucrats' interactions with one another affect performance, they rarely focus on why these public servants collaborate. Bureaucrats' collaboration matters because it can significantly contribute to achieving policy goals. The article suggests that collaboration occurs when bureaucrats have networks based on common experiences due to their professions, training and other related scenarios. Once the networks are formed, collaboration is sustained through the building of trust and reciprocity. This study examines these deductive premises through an interview study with bureaucrats in Colombia, tracking collaboration patterns in their daily routines.