Abstract

This study focuses on the antecedents of collaborative culture in multisectoral collaboration promoting school-aged children’s well-being in Finnish municipalities. The purpose of this study is to understand the role of cultural conditions in collaboration by examining the ‘voices’ of principals and heads of local educational departments in local collaborative structures and practices. This work is an interpretive qualitative study, and the empirical data consist of 20 thematic interviews collected from principals and heads of local educational departments. The data were analysed using a qualitative content analysis method. The findings show that legislative, strategic, structural and physical frameworks create visible frames and artefacts that enhance collaborative culture. At the level of espoused beliefs and values, the systematic methods of collaboration and the development of collaborative practices support collaboration, whereas the discontinuity of collaborative practices limits it. At the level of basic assumptions, multisectoral collaboration can be strengthened through shared values, recognising the importance of principals’ and heads of local educational departments’ role as constructors of collaborative culture, understanding of well-being promotion as a common task, knowledge about other sectors, shared understanding of needs associated with well-being promotion and familiarity with other sectors. Multisectoral collaboration can also be supported through workable group dynamics, respect, trust in collaborators and personal positive attitudes, willingness to collaborate and collaborative skills. Old traditions usually hinder collaboration.