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| Path: Main Street : Resources & Library : Book Reviews : Book Review |
Getting it Together: Collaboration Models for Community Groups
By Kylie Hutchinson; CAN$12 + shipping and handling; BC Council for Families; (604) 660-0675 or 1-800-663-5638; bccf@istar.caIf your organization is feeling the pressure to do more with less, collaboration with other organizations may be one way to help achieve your goals more efficiently and effectively. Getting it Together offers a clear guide to structuring and managing collaboration from an administrative and governance perspective. The guide grew out of the experiences of the Community Agency Partnership Project (CAPP), a group of seven British Columbia nonprofits serving children and families. It highlights their research on collaborative models, as well as their experience and the experiences of other organizations in structuring ongoing partnerships with other agencies.
Is collaboration right for your organization? A brief section offers tips on how to conduct a feasibility study around collaboration. As part of the feasibility analysis, there is also a useful section highlighting the importance of cultural differences between organizations. Often a big stumbling block to successful partnerships, you can use the sample "Organization Culture Index" to assess your agency's climate, and that of potential partners.
The focus of the guide, however, is on models for implementation, rather than on the general concepts of collaboration.
If you decide that collaboration might be an effective route for your organization, the guide outlines three common collaborative models: consortiums, virtual agencies, and co-location arrangements. For each model, it highlights structural elements, advantages and disadvantages, organizational autonomy issues, potential costs and cost savings, and a general timeframe for implementation.
The guide also offers case studies of existing model implementations, highlighting the benefits, challenges and funding issues for each real world collaboration example.
In the consortium model section, the guide includes a list of 30 ideas for collaborative menu items -- small projects that consortium members may opt into in areas such as fundraising, marketing, volunteer management, staff and board development, and programs. These general ideas may serve as a useful springboard for more extensive partnerships in the future.
Hutchinson explores the most complex model of collaboration -- co-location -- and outlines four different governance models for sharing space and management duties across organizations. Should you structure your co-location as a host agency, nonprofit society, limited company or cooperative? The guide explains the difference between each and outlines its benefits and challenges with short case studies of each model in action.
A longer case study outlines the steps in the process of collaboration for agencies participating in the CAPP. Because the guide grew out of their experience, it takes up a significant portion of the publication. However, it does offer a useful case study in the issues that will inevitably arise in your planning process too.
Handy appendices include sample feasibility study questions, an agency inventory template, the organization culture index and a lengthy summary of the CAPP feasibility study.
If your organization is considering collaboration on any level, Getting it Together is a lucid guide to help you explore the different governance and administrative options available.
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