It posit both a plural state, where multiple inter-dependent actors contribute to the delivery of
public services and a pluralist state, where multiple processes inform the policy making
system. As a consequence of these two forms of plurality, its focus is very much upon
inter-organizational relationships and the governance of processes, and it stresses service
effectiveness and outcomes. Further, it lays emphasis on the design and evaluation of
enduring inter-organizational relationships, where trust, relational capital and relational
contracts act as the core governance mechanisms (Bovaird 2006; Teicher et al. 2006).