2. Nineteen Factors Influencing Successful Collaborations
Factors Related to the ENVIRONMENT
1.
2.
3.
History of collaboration or cooperation in the community
Collaborative group seen as a leader in the community
Political/social climate favorable
Factors Related to MEMBERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS
4.
5.
6.
7.
Mutual respect, understanding, and trust
Appropriate cross-section of members
Members see collaboration as in their self-interest
Ability to compromise
Factors Related to PROCESS/STRUCTURE
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Members share a stake in both process and outcome
Multiple layers of decision making
Flexibility
Development of clear roles and policy guidelines
Adaptability
Factors Related to COMMUNICATION
13. Open and frequent communication
14. Established informal and formal communication links
Factors Related to PURPOSE
15. Concrete, attainable goals and objectives
16. Share vision
17. Unique purpose
Factors Related to RESOURCES
18. Sufficient funds
19. Skilled convener
From The COLLABORATION HANDBOOK

3. Stage 1:
Envision Results by Working
Individual-to-Individual
Challenges: Bring People Together
Enhance Trust
Confirm Our Vision
Specify Desired Results
Stage 2: Empower Ourselves
Challenges: Conform Organizational Roles
Resolve Conflicts
Organize the Effort
Support the Members
Stage 3:
Ensure Results by Working
Organization-to-Organization
Challenges: Manage the Work
Create Joint Systems
Evaluate the Results
Renew the Effort
Stage 4:
Endow Continuity by
Working Collaboration-to-Community
Challenges: Create Visibility
Involve the Community
Change the System
End the Collaboration
From THE COLLABORATION HANDBOOK
Joint Efforts—A Word by Any Other Name

4. Joint efforts go by many names. If all members agree on a higher level of intensity of
work, many of these efforts can be collaborations whatever they are called. Two
elements are crucial to successful joint efforts: everyone must agree on the level of
intensity and the level of intensity must be appropriate to the desired results. Here are
some names for joint efforts.
•
Advisory Committee: provides
suggestions and assistance at the
request of an organization.
•
Coordination: working to the same
end with harmonious adjustment or
functioning.
•
Alliance: a union or connection of
interests that have similar character,
structure, or outlook; functions as a
semiofficial organization of
organizations.
•
Federation: the act of uniting by
agreement of each member to
subordinate its power to that of the
central authority in common affairs.
•
Joint Powers: the act by legally
constituted organizations (such as
governmental agencies or
corporations) of assigning particular
powers each has to be mutually
defined purpose; a written document,
called a joint powers agreement,
spells out the relationship between
the groups.
•
League: a compact for promoting
common interests; an alliance.
•
Merger: the legal combining of two
or more organizations; the
absorption of one interest by
another.
•
Network: individuals or
organizations formed in a loose-knit
group.
•
Partnership: an association of two
or more who contribute money or
property to carry on a joint business
and who share profits or losses; a
term loosely used for individuals and
groups working together.
•
Task Force: a self-contained unit for
a specific purpose, often at the
request of an overseeing body, that
is not ongoing.
•
Coalition: a temporary alliance of
factions, parties, and so on for some
specific purpose; mobilizes
individuals and groups to influence
outcomes.
•
Commission: a body authorized to
perform certain duties or steps or to
take on certain powers; generally
appointed by an official body.
•
•
•
Competition: the act of seeking to
gain that for which another is also
striving; rivalry; a contest;
nonetheless a form of joint effort.
Confederation: Being united in an
alliance or league; joining for a
special purpose.
Consolidation: combining of several
into one; usually implies major
structural changes that bring
operations together.
•
Consortium: association; same as
alliance
•
Cooperation: the act of working
together to produce an effect.
From The COLLABORATION HANDBOOK

5. Building Key Relationships and doing Work
Cooperation
• Shorter-term informal relations that exist
• lack any clearly defined mission, structure, or planning effort characterize
cooperation.
Coordination
• More Formal relationships
• Understanding of missions
• Focus longer-term interaction around a specific effort or program
• Require some planning and division of roles
• Open communication channels between organizations
Collaboration
• More Curable and pervasive relationship
• Separate organizations form a new structure with full commitment to a
common mission
• Require comprehensive planning and well-defined communication channels
From THE COLLABORATION HANDBOOK