Unraveling the Impact of Collaborative Competency on Collaborative Governance in Public Sector Organizations

Objective: The study investigates the influence of collaborative competency on collaborative governance, with innovative governance serving as a mediator, in the provincial government agencies of Aceh Province, Indonesia. Theoretical Framework: the application of innovative governance to mediate the influence of collaborative competency on collaborative governance in the public sector. Method: The research utilizes the Amos software as a data processing instrument to employ the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) quantitative model. The investigation was conducted with 242 government officials from 54 Provincial Government Working Agencies (SKPA) in the province, representing top, middle, and operational management. Data of respondents were collected by disseminating closed-ended questionnaires in the form of Google forms via email and the provincial agency's WhatsApp group. Results and Discussions: The findings indicate that collaborative competency has significant direct effects on both innovative and collaborative governance, as well as a direct effect of innovative governance on collaborative governance. Additionally, the relationship between collaborative governance and collaborative competency is mediated by innovative governance. Research Implications: This research suggests that the quality and efficiency of public service delivery can be improved by enhancing collaborative competencies within government agencies, which can result in more effective and innovative governance practices. This emphasizes the necessity of creating policies and training programs that encourage the development of innovative approaches and collaborative skills among government officials. Originality/Value: In contrast to prior literature, which has primarily examined human resource competencies, effective governance, collaborative governance, employee productivity, and organizational performance. Nevertheless, the comprehensive investigation of the role of innovative governance in mediating the relationship between collaborative competencies and collaborative governance, particularly in the provincial government context, has not yet been completed.