How to know when to collaborate: four questions to ask when considering collaboration | Article
Have you ever wondered whether the goal you’re working towards would be better suited to a collaborative approach?
The decision to involve other organisations in your project is a difficult one – working with outside organisations involves both logistical and relational effort beyond what is needed within your home environment. Sometimes, these factors outweigh the potential rewards and mean that collaboration is not the right option to pursue.
However, when facing certain complex challenges, the outcomes that are achievable by involving other organisations and sectors far surpass what can be accomplished by acting alone. This is particularly true for what are traditionally deemed “wicked problems”, such as climate change, economic inequality, and social marginalisation.
How do you know if what you are working on will benefit from partnering with other organisations?
Based on the drivers of collaboration identified in WIG’s Collaboration Playbook, below are four questions to ask yourself when considering entering a collaborative partnership:
1. Does the issue I’m trying to solve affect a large number of people?
If the problem you are trying to solve involves many stakeholders, bringing them to the conversation can be an important way to account for their experiences. Prioritising representation of affected parties through collaboration can be an effective way to reduce power imbalances in society.
This question is particularly relevant when reflecting on public policy which often applies to a large set of the population.
At a recent roundtable discussion about energy transition, WIG members discussed how to effectively involve diverse stakeholders. Read key insights from their conversation
2. Do I need more knowledge to solve this problem?
If you are unsure how to solve the problem, you might need to gather more information. Involving others and inviting in diverse perspectives can widen your understanding and allow you to come to a solution you would not otherwise. Sometimes, different organisations have views of different pieces of the problems, and it requires them coming together to be able to see the whole picture.
A collaborative partnership can be a way to generate knowledge and engage with others.
3. Is there a limit to the change I can make alone because of interdependencies on other organisations working in this area?
Maybe there is a professional or jurisdictional boundary that prevents your organisation from being able to take the reins and make the needed changes alone.
Sometimes the work in a particular area is so interdependent that one organisation cannot make substantial change without involving another.
When two or more organisations cover different aspects of the same area, joining forces can increase efficiency. Their complementary outputs can benefit from economies of scope and deliver more together than either could alone – and at a lower cost.
When organisations are part of a system, a successful outcome relies on more than one party making a change.
4. Will the solution cost less by bringing in another organisation?
Sometimes, it is as simple as being able to access economies of scale. Joining forces with another organisation may help you reduce costs and increase efficiency.
If you answered yes to any of these four questions, collaboration may be the right approach for you to move forward towards this goal. Learn more about when it’s right to collaborate and how to make a collaboration successful in WIG’s Collaboration Playbook, researched and written by the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government.
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