Step Four: Establishing a Collaborative Relationship

jointly developing and agreeing to a set of common goals and directions;

sharing responsibility for obtaining those goals; and

working together to achieve those goals, using the expertise of each collaborator (Bruner 1991, p. 6).

Initially, partners may not be ready for a collaborative relationship. Instead, they may work together cooperatively to help each other meet their respective organizational goals without making any tangible changes in the way they deliver services or in their operating procedures. However, unless these cooperative relationships become increasingly collaborative in nature, no changes will occur in the service delivery system (Melaville and Blank 1991). Factors Contributing to Collaboration

• A number of factors contribute to collaborative linkages:
• Regular contact through purposeful meetings
• Frequent communication through telephone calls and mail
• A focus that is client centered (rather than organizational)
• Leadership that helps develop and maintain a shared vision
• A plan that delineates shared goals and objectives (Because the plan is the key factor in establishing a collaborative relationship, the next step is devoted to it.)
• Appropriate agency representation on the team to execute the plan

By attending to these factors, you can help ensure that the work of the team is more collaborative than cooperative in nature.