Collaboration

Arthur Himmelman defines strategies for working together, of which collaboration is the most intensive.

• Networking: Exchanging information about each other's activities, goals etc, for mutual benefit.
• Coordinating: Exchanging information and altering activities for mutual benefit and to achieve a common purpose.
• Cooperating: Exchanging information, altering activities, and sharing resources for mutual benefit and to achieve a common purpose.
• Collaborating: Exchanging information, altering activities, sharing resources, and enhancing the capacity of another for mutual benefit and to achieve a common purpose.

Collaboration defined in this way, is not always the most suitable goal. These stages representing increasing levels of investment of time, energy and other resources, with networking being easiest and quickest. Moving through these as stages, building up trust and mutual understand, is a way to achieve real collaboration.

Questions to ask

Bruce Anderson^[1] offers 8 "Foundations for Collaboration":

1. There are clearly defined tasks
2. Differing self-interests and values have been heard and understood
3. Focused attention is given to increasing the long-term relational capacity of the participants.
4. The resources, capacities, and gifts of each member are known.
5. The group has control over the planning, methods used to achieve goals, and primary evaluation of success.
6. There is intentional work done to enhance the capacity and outcomes for each group member.
7. There is acknowledgement of past injustices, with action taken to correct imbalances and heal wounds.
8. Each member has expanded their horizons beyond the goal of meeting their own needs and is in service to other group members.

Maintain perspective

Collaboration should generally not be an end in itself, but should support the mission. Be clear about your mission.

References

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External links

• Collaborate only when necessary - WiserEarth blog.
• Caught up in Kumbayah: Are There Limits to Collaboration?, Cynthia Gibson, The Philanthropic Initiative’s strategic philanthropy blog, "Deep Social Impact".

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