Promoting Networking, Coordination,

Cooperative Agreements and

Collaborative Arrangements Among
Organizations

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Why is it important for organizations to
work together?
When you have many groups with different
views, resources, and skills applying their
intelligence and strength to solve a problem
together, the results can be like the work of
superheroes.

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Overview
•Ways organizations can work together.
•How to choose among relationships.
•Challenges that organizations confront
when working together.
•Building organizational relationships.

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

What are ways organizations can work
together?
•Networking
•Coordination
•Cooperation
•Collaboration
•Multisector collaboration

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Networking
•A networking relationship includes
exchanging information to help each
organization improve
•Networking requires a small amount of
time and yields great rewards
•A networking relationship can grow after
initial trust is developed.

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Coordination
•A coordinating relationship includes
modifying activities to provide better
service.
•It requires more involvement, time, and
trust than networking.
•Results can significantly improve peoples
lives?

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Cooperation

•Includes sharing information and resources

and making adjustments.
•It requires trust and time.
•Organizations have to let go of turf issues.
•Organizations share ownership, hassles, and
rewards.

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

 Collaboration

•Organizations help each other enhance

their capacities to do their jobs.
•People become partners rather than
competitors
•Collaboration is the most work but the
potential for change can also be greatest.

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Multisector collaboration

•Organizations and citizens form a

partnership.
•All parties give priority to the good of the
community.
•It has great rewards, but requires a great
investment.
•It requires trust, a need, and the will to
make a change.
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How do you choose among these
relationships?

•You want to choose an arrangement that

will accomplish your goals.
•You want to work out an arrangement
that is feasible.

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 In choosing a relationship, consider:
•What are your goals?
•Which kind of relationship is necessary to
accomplish those goals?
•Are there resources?
•Is there sufficient trust and commitment to
support it?

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

 Challenges organizations confront

• The belief that individual effort is more beneficial

than cooperation.
• Mistrust.
• A lack of communication skills.
• Racism and other forms of discrimination.
• A lack of strong leadership.
• A sense of powerlessness.
• Funders sometimes require organizations to
collaborate in order to receive funds.

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

 How to build organizational relationships
• Involve stakeholders.
• Establish one-to-one relationships and build trust.
• Clarify goals.
• Decide on a relationship that makes sense.
• Establish ground rules.
• Learn how to listen.
• Build on points of agreement.
• Learn about each other's cultural group.
• Don't require organizations to give up their
identities.
• Expect problems and disagreements.
• Celebrate success.

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas