Beyond the great divide: Cognitive differences and types of disagreements in public-private interactions

Research on grand challenges has highlighted the critical role of coordinated action between the public and private sectors to avoid delays in decision-making. Despite widespread acknowledgment of the importance of collaboration between these sectors, significant cognitive differences often hinder effective policymaking. In this study, we explore the often-overlooked cognitive divide between policymakers and business leaders. Using the GiroZero project—an initiative to decarbonize Colombia’s road freight sector—as a case study, we employ interpretative structural modelling to develop cognitive maps for both groups. These maps illustrate how each group perceives and prioritizes factors in the decarbonization process.

Our findings reveal notable disparities in the complexity and focus of these maps, reflecting differing priorities and strategies. We contribute to the literature on public-private collaboration by introducing a typology of disagreements that conceptualizes the causes of cognitive divergence. Additionally, we provide actionable insights for policymakers and business leaders, recommending targeted interventions to bridge cognitive gaps and improve collaboration. As the study of cognitive divides enhances public-private partnerships in addressing grand challenges, we call for future research to explore cognitive diversity within each sector and refine cognitive mapping techniques for more effective analysis of complex public-private interactions.

Andrés Felipe Rey started the Ph.D. program at KLU in September 2022 under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Gordon Wilmsmeier and Prof. Dr. Johannes Meuer. His research focuses on decarbonizing Road Freight Transportation in emerging countries. Before joining the Ph.D. program at KLU, Andrés received a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from ICESI University with a certification in Supply Chain Management from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the National University of Colombia. Previously, he had 18 years of experience in the supply chain field. In the private sector, he has worked as a leader of operations and implementation projects in supply chains in countries such as Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela. In the public sector, he contributes to policy design as a Senior Consultant for the National Planning Department (DNP) with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and as an advisor and project contributor for multilateral banking such as the World Bank for Bolivia, IDB for Peru, CAF for Panama, and ICLEI for Colombia. Recently, he has been working with Universidad de los Andes and Cardiff University for the last 3 years in the GiroZero project funded by UKPACT to decarbonize Road Freight Transport in Colombia.