Commentary on Community Collaboration, which is central to Community Diplomacy
Excerpt from Scott London’s essay:
(which also is excerpted on homepage)
“Collaborative groups… are structured horizontally. Leadership, to the extent that it exists at all, is broadly distributed. Job titles and professional affiliations fade into the background and people derive their influence from having their ears to the ground, from being well-connected in the community, and from being engaged in a multiplicity of projects. Membership usually spans silos and divisions in the community, processes are guided by norms of trust and reciprocity, and communication is more personal, more conversational, more exploratory than in formal settings.”
“For this reason, collaborative efforts tend to be loosely structured, highly adaptive, and inherently creative. By creating spaces where connections are made, ideas are cross-fertilized, and collective knowledge is developed, collaborative teams generate rich opportunities for innovation. When the right people are brought together in constructive ways and with the appropriate information, they are able to create powerful visions and robust strategies for change.”
from On “Collaboration” — a collection edited by Mortensen and Nesbitt (London:
Tate, 2012) http://www.scottlondon.com/articles/oncollaboration.html
Additional thoughts from experts in the field:
Collaboration is a “…process through which parties who see different aspects of a problem can constructively explore their differences and search for solutions that go beyond their own limited vision of what is possible.
“Collaborating: Finding Common Ground for Multiparty Problems”
(Barbara Gray, 1989)
Collaboration “…is a mutually beneficial relationship between two or more parties who work toward common goals by sharing responsibility, authority, and accountability for achieving results.”
“Collaborative Leadership” (Chrislip and Larson 1994)
Collaboration is a “…long-term, well-defined relationship entered into by two or more organizations to achieve common goals. It involves genuine sharing of authority, accountability, resources, and rewards. There is a need, a crisis, or an opportunity. Partners come together to accomplish something that they cannot do alone.”
“Can This Collaboration Be Saved?” (Paul Mattessich 2003)