Collaboration : What Makes It Work - 2nd edition

"This is very helpful to me as someone in an existing collaboration. It is especially helpful to have a structure to hang my experiences on and to shape our mission for the future."

-- Barbara Stone, Health Care for the Homeless Project in Ramsey County

"The list of factors will be very useful. It will be handy to have a kind of report card. So much of collaboration is still a ftouch and feel process."

--Terry Donovan, Senior Project Manager, Anoka County Human Services

"Essential reading for anyone interested in collaboration. A well done summary of what the latest research says and what we all need to know!"

--Sharon Kagan, Senior Associate, The Bush Center for Child Development and Social Policy, Yale University

"This booklet should be required reading for anyone committed to improving the future of youth through collaborative efforts between community members and the schools. It provides the reader with the key learnings which are critical for successful collaboration."

--Jane Asche, Vice President and Director of Membership Services, The National Association of Partners in Education, Inc.

Amherst H. Wilder foundation Web Site, June, 2003

About the Authors
Acknowledgments
Preface to the Second Edition

Goals of This Book
Methodology

CHAPTER 1 Introduction
Collaboration--An Effective Way to Work
Addressing the Key Questions
A Working Definition
A Theoretical Basis for Collaboration
How to Use This Book
CHAPTER 2 The Twenty Success Factors
Factors Influencing the Success of Collaboration
1. Factors Related to the ENVIRONMENT
2. Factors Related to MEMBERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS
3. Factors Related to PROCESS AND STRUCTURE
4. Factors Related to COMMUNICATION
5. Factors Related to PURPOSE
6. Factors Related to RESOURCES
Chapter 3 Understanding the Factors
1. Factors Related to the ENVIRONMENT
2. Factors Related to MEMBERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS
3. Factors Related to Process and STRUCTURE
4. Factors Related to COMMUNICATION
5. Factors Related to PURPOSE
6. Factors Related to RESOURCES
Chapter 4 Putting the Factors to Work
Collaboration Practice
Collaboration Research

Opportunities for Future Research

An Important Question: When Should Organizations Collaborate?
Chapter 5 Examining Your Own Collaborative Project
The Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory

Instructions
Statements about Your Collaborative Group

Scoring Your Group on the Factors That Influence Collaborative Success

Interpreting Your Scores

Suggested Uses for The Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory

A Case Example: Using The Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory
Interpretation of Results and Follow-up Decisions
Outcomes

Chapter 6 Summary and Conclusions
What We Have Learned
Using the Information
The Importance of the Factors for Your Situation
A Word about the Future
Appendices
Appendix A Definition of Collaboration

Cooperation, Coordination, and Collaboration

Appendix B Methodology

1. Identification and Assessment of Research Studies
2. Systematic Codification of Findings from Each Study
3. Synthesis of Findings from Individual Studies

Appendix C Collaboration Experts Interviewed
Appendix D Author/Factor Matrix
Bibliography