Gobernanza Adaptativa y Capacidad Institucional Frente a Crisis Complejas

This study analyzed how institutional capacities influence the effectiveness of adaptive governance in addressing complex crises, with the aim of identifying key dimensions and proposing an integrative framework applicable to public management. A qualitative approach was used, employing purposive and theoretical sampling. The sample included 18 key informants, selected for their direct experience in public management, coordination, and decision-making during crisis contexts. A thematic analysis, with open, axial, and selective coding, was applied in an iterative process that contrasted empirical data with the theoretical framework until conceptual saturation was reached. The findings show that inter-institutional coordination, adaptive leadership, and organizational flexibility are critical dimensions that strengthen adaptive governance by reducing decision-making fragmentation and facilitating timely responses in highly uncertain scenarios. Furthermore, knowledge management and institutional learning contribute to improved evidence use and post-crisis adaptation. The study concludes that adaptive governance is strengthened when institutional capacities operate in an articulated and systemic manner. This study provides an integrated analytical framework that broadens the theoretical understanding of governance in complex contexts and offers practical implications for the design of public policies aimed at strengthening the adaptive capacity of the state.