Stages

STAGES OF COLLABORATION

Overview

The stages of collaboration do not follow a straight course. Instead, stages may loop back, repeat themselves, or overlap. Each stage includes milestones to be achieved.

Stage 1: Getting Together (envision results) Decide to act – assess the need for collaboration and your own readiness to collaborate Bring people together and involve the right people Set initial ground rules Begin to build trust Evaluate the progress
Stage 2: Building Trust & Ownership (empower ourselves) Engage partners Confirm organizational roles & develop a common base of knowledge Define shared vision Commit to collaborate Revisit & revise ground rules, including how conflict will be resolved Identify planning resources Evaluate progress
Stage 3: Developing a Strategic Plan (ensure results) Develop a mission Assess the environment & collaborative capabilities Establish well-formed goals Examine & select strategies Develop a plan of action Create joint systems Evaluate progress
Stage 4: Taking Action (endow continuity) Formalize interagency relationship – written agreements Implement plan of action Deepen collaborative culture Create visibility – involved the community Adapt & expand the initiative Evaluate progress
Adapted from Atelia Melaville & Martin Blank with Gelareh Asayesh, “Together We Can: AA Guide for Crafting a Profamily System of Education & Human Services” and “Collaboration Handbook,” Amherst Wilder Foundation.

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