Partnership: the issues

It's true to say that........
Most people now recognise that many of today's big challenges can only be dealt with by organisations working together. This happens in business, in the public sector and within and between voluntary and community organisations.

In the public services solving many of the problems in society are so complex they can only be addressed through partnerships.

In the voluntary and community sector (Third Sector), organisations working deep in communities have always recognised the importance of cross-organisational working.

For business, partnerships between companies really can make a difference.  When businesses are as lean, fit, streamlined and productive as they can be, the next step change in performance needs something different.  This is often provided through working with other companies in well structured partnerships of some kind so as to move up another productivity gear.

Here’s a few examples of how organisations are coming together:

• Local Strategic Partnerships that bring together the main strategic service delivery organsations under a Local Area Agreement to address local community and neighbourhood needs within a Sustainable Community Strategy
• Liaisons between producers of information and developers of technology


• Specialists in economic development, providers of social services and planning authorities in bringing about area regeneration


• Companies, police forces, education authorities tackling social exclusion


• Schools, colleges, businesses, training providers policymakers, voluntary organisations tackling skills shortages especially in the light of the Leitch Review of Skills and the developing economic crisis
• Collaboration between schools and further education colleges to deliver Specialised Diplomas for 14-19 year olds
  

But what do we really mean by ”partnership”?

This is Makesfive’s own definition

A cross-organisational group working together towards commonly held goals which would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to achieve if tackled alone.

In theory.....
Partnership should work. It ought to bring together all the right agencies, people, resources and capabilities to make a real impact. It is supposed to create synergy: two plus two should make five.

But in practice......
It doesn't always work out like this. Despite many years talking about it, partnership working that really makes a difference is still the exception rather than the rule.

Why?
There's no single answer.
But one factor seems to be that understanding that cross-organisational working needs to be MORE than simply allocating tasks in different ways - more than managing agendas differently.
Where partnerships are intended to make a difference to communities - it's also vital to accept that "the partnership" IS ALSO the community itself.
Also that partnership working is a skilled business - and the skills have to be refined and developed - that doesn't always (often?) happen.
Finallt, building genuine partnerships needs working at.  Developing relationships and understanding how partnerships work need to be actively tackled.

 GO TO our Visitors’ Resource Centre where you'll find a range of free downloadable tools, prompts and support materials to get you thinking.