City Research Online

Abstract

The complexity of coordinating multiple actors and reconciling their divergent interests makes governance a critical concern when addressing grand challenges. The consensus is that Cross-Sectoral Partnerships (CSPs) provide the most suitable governance approach: governments “steer” by setting objectives and orchestrating, while the private sector and civil society “row” by delivering innovative services efficiently. We report on a discovery that challenges this consensus. Switzerland’s disaster insurance system relies on the government to do both the “steering” and the “rowing.” Public sector organizations in this context are exceptional in providing affordable disaster insurance coverage directly to property owners while also addressing the grand challenge of climate adaptation by integrating disaster prevention and mitigation at scale. We identify key mechanisms that enable this public sector solution and invite management scholars to investigate their application to other grand challenges.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2026 Academy of Management. This article will be published in Academy of Management Discoveries and it will be available online at: https://journals.aom.org/journal/amd
Publisher Keywords:	Climate adaptation, grand challenges, cross-sectoral partnerships, public sector, disaster insurance
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management J Political Science > JF Political institutions (General)
Departments:	Bayes Business School Bayes Business School > Faculty of Management
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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