Getting Together: Ideas for Effective Collaborations

Structuring Collaborations

Collaborations can take many different forms, depending on their structure and their process. Sometimes a funding source requires a certain degree of formality, which must be documented. In any case, all partners must agree on how their collaboration will be organized.

No one structure is better than another; any one may be appropriate for a particular community or situation and may change as the situation changes. What is most important is that all parties agree on the structure of their collaboration. Finding the balance between formality and informality that encourages diverse participants to engage fully can be difficult. But don’t sacrifice a formal structure (e.g., by-laws, subcommittees, regular meetings, agendas, communications vehicles, and the like) on the altar of congeniality. Be sure that appropriate processes are in place to move your collaboration forward.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL PARTNERS TO KNOW THE STAGE IN WHICH THE GROUP IS ENGAGED. THE FOUR PROCESS STAGES OF THE MUTUAL EFFORT ARE:

CONCEPT EXPLORATION
beginning with inquiry planning and ending with data analysis.

NEGOTIATION
including prioritizing, identifiying interests and issues, problem solving, and drafting an agreement.

RATIFICATION
explaining the draft, soliciting the agreement of stakeholders, and coming to a final agreement.

IMPLEMENTATION
which is ongoing throughout the life of the mutual effort.

Collaborations often establish different levels of involvement. A typical coalition might have three levels: policy, where decisions are made about the service system, blending of funds, and braiding of services; management, which involves supervisors, managers, line staff, parents, and adult children and focuses on implementation; and community, which consists of triage teams that engage and serve families in need.

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