Collaborative Approach

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COLLABORATIVE APPROACH - WHERE ARE YOU ON THE SCALE?

Do you have the necessary collaborative skills?

The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines 'collaborate' as work jointly and 'approach' as act or means of approaching. Therefore we are suggesting that a collaborative approach is the way in which people work together. They would adopt a collaborative approach in working toward common or compatible goals and, we suggest, they also need collaborative skills to be successful. The actual collaborative processes may vary but the goal is to create an environment for involvement so that people can work together and, when necessary, resolve conflict.

Of course there are various degrees of collaboration ranging from people willing and able to work together in a collaborative approach to opposing groups having to resort to legally binding agreements. The following may help you to judge where you are on the scale for any projects that you are involved in:

Most collaborative - the main characteristic here is that the parties are collaborating together without the use of a facilitator and being able to come to their own conclusions and decisions or recommendations. Example:

  • Informal Discussion and/or Negotiation
  • Collaborative Problem Solving
In the main this collaborative process is characterised as being co-operative and informal. It is clearly likely to be the least expensive of the three approaches mentioned here and also potentially the least stressful.

Collaborative - the main characteristic here is that the parties are collaborating together with the use of a facilitator and have the potential to come to conclusions and decisions or recommendations through the facilitated collaborative process. Example:
  • Facilitated group discussion and/or negotiation
  • Facilitated collaborative Problem Solving
In the main this collaborative approach is characterised as being co-operative but less informal than the previous approach. Perhaps the need for a facilitator has been recognised because of the subject matter and the individuals involved. Therefore the scope and makeup of the group have the potential to determine quite a difference in the scale of collaboration. It likely to be more expensive than a collaborative process that does not require a facilitator. Their skill in particular is important and will have a bearing on the intensity of the process.

Least Collaborative - does anyone really want to go down this approach? Effectively there is very little collaboration between the parties and the decision making is taken away from those involved and made by other people inside the organisation or by a tribunal or even a Court-of-Law. This 'collaborative approach is characterised by the parties taking an adversarial stance. It will be stressful for all concerned and the most expensive.

If you wish to learn more about the collaboration needed we suggest that you start by looking at the sections:

Interpersonal Skills and Conflict Management as well as
books on collaboration.

Collaborative Approach - Contact Us