Alliances, Coalitions and Partnerships: Building Collaborative Organizations
By Joan Roberts; 176 pages; published by New
Society Publishers
Whether it's called an alliance, a consortium, a partnership, or a joint
venture, few organizations work in isolation these days. It might be a political
move, a financial necessity, or a way to bridge the gap between traditional
organizations and government or community. Regardless of the reasons, collaboration
makes sense, but it's not always easy to make sense of collaboration, and
many organizations are still figuring out how to do it effectively. Joan Roberts
explores this evolution of the way we work together in Alliances, Coalitions
and Partnerships. In it she introduces readers to the concept of the trans-organizational
system (TS) - an organization of organizations in which each partner retains
its autonomy and legal structure, but together the TS shares decision-making
as well as joint benefits.
Roberts draws on more than 20 years of experience managing organizations and
building other collaborative processes. This includes the creation of a Community
Economic Development Advisory Committee (CEDAC) while she was a city councilor
for the City of York (now part of Toronto). It eventually became a neighbourhood
revitalization model used by the federal government. Here, she presents a
development framework for this type of organization, from determining the
need for a TS, to building and evaluating the organization. She also addresses
issues of power, governance, and lateral leadership, building trust, and ensuring
organizational effectiveness. A case study of CEDAC is included to illustrate
the different stages of developing a TS.
This book is designed to help multistakeholder groups create a successful
trans-organizational system. It might not sound like the most entertaining
read, but don't be fooled. It is not only interesting and informative, but
also engaging. Roberts looks at the big picture, offering both practical,
how-to advice and a deeper understanding of what an organization really is
and what it can achieve. Community and social workers, government program
staff, nonprofit executive directors, and international development workers
are just a few examples of who can benefit from this illuminating and thorough
guide. If you have ever struggled with a collaborative process or have avoided
cooperative alliances because you don't know where or how to begin, pick up
this book and start reading. You will soon be on your way to developing your
own trans-organizational system.
Buy the book:
Canada: buy through Amazon.ca: CDN$17.56
International: buy through Amazon.com: US$12.21
