Collaboration, Coordination and Cooperation for Action Jacqueline N. Epping State Orientation Meeting 2008

Distinguishing Elements Vision and relationship Structure, responsibilities, and communication Authority and accountability Resources, risks and rewards

Characteristics of Cooperation  Informal relationships  No commonly defined mission, structure or planning  Information shared as needed  Authority retained by each organization  Resources and rewards separate  No risk

Characteristics of Coordination More formal relationships Compatible missions Some planning and division of roles Communication channels are established Most authority and accountability with individual organizations

Characteristics of Coordination (cont.) Resources available to participants Rewards mutually acknowledged, may be shared for a specific project Some risk

Characteristics of Collaboration o More durable and pervasive relationships o New structure with full commitment to common mission o Comprehensive planning and formal communication channels on multiple levels

Characteristics of Collaboration (cont.) Authority determined by the collaborative Resources pooled or jointly secured Products are shared Risk is great

A brief exercise…. Think about a recent, current or proposed joint endeavor Based on the major distinguishing elements, is it a cooperative, coordinated or collaborative effort? Is it what you thought it was? Is it what you want it to be? What would you need to change to make it what you want?

What makes collaboration successful? Twenty success factors Six major categories –Environment –Membership characteristics –Process and structure –Communications –Purpose –Resources

Environment History of collaboration or coordination History of collaboration or coordination Collaborative group seen as legitimate leader, reliable and competent Collaborative group seen as legitimate leader, reliable and competent Favorable political and social climate Favorable political and social climate

Membership Characteristics  Mutual respect, understanding and trust  Appropriate cross-section of members  Members see collaboration as in their self interest  Ability to compromise to reach consensus

Process and structure  Members feel ownership and share a stake in both process and structure  Multiple layers of participation  Flexibility in process and structure  Clear roles, rights, responsibilities  Adaptability to changing circumstances  Appropriate pace for structure, resources, activities

Communication Open and frequent formal communication Includes informal relationships and communication

Purpose Concrete, attainable goals and objectives Shared vision, agreed upon mission, objectives, and strategies Unique purpose – differs at least in part, from member organizations’ mission, goals, or approach

Resources Sufficient funds, staff, materials, time Skilled leadership – organizational, interpersonal skills, fairness

The short list….. Mutual respect, understanding, and trust (27) Mutual respect, understanding, and trust (27) Sufficient funds, staff, materials, and time (20) Sufficient funds, staff, materials, and time (20) Appropriate cross section of members (18) Appropriate cross section of members (18) Multiple layers of participation (17) Multiple layers of participation (17)

The short list (cont.)…… Members see collaboration as in their self interest (15) Members see collaboration as in their self interest (15) Clear roles, rights, and responsibilities (15) Clear roles, rights, and responsibilities (15) Open and frequent communication (15) Open and frequent communication (15) Shared vision Shared vision

When should you collaborate? When it’s the best way to arrange partners to accomplish tasks, address issues and/or fulfill a mission It’s a tool – not always the best or only way “Collaboration doesn’t always constitute the best way to accomplishment, any more than a pair of pliers is always the best tool for household repairs”

Examining your own collaborative project Read each item Circle the number that indicates your agreement or disagreement with each statement Identify your strongest and weakest factors Compare to the success factors and particularly the “short list”

Group Think How is your collaboration doing in relation to “the short list”? To the total twenty factors? To the six major factors? Where are the collaboration’s strengths? Needs or weaknesses? What’s the impact of the strengths and weaknesses on the process? Products? How might the collaborative strengthen the weaker areas? What might you do to enhance the collaboration?