Aksel Hagen is Associate Professor at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. He has been a planner at the local and regional level for seven years and served for more than 20 years as an elected representative in Norway. Ulla Higdem is Professor at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. Her research interests include new and changing forms of directing, steering (governance) and planning, innovative networks and policy innovation and processes for regional and local planning and development, and partnership in a democratic perspective.