FROM DIALOGUE TO SYNERGY: BUILDING COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS

Janet Salmons, Ph.D.

Agenda

What is collaboration?What is collaboration?

Collaboration is:

"an interactive process that engages two or more participants who work together to achieve outcomes they could not accomplish independently."

Collaboration is:

"an interactive process that engages two or more participants who work together to achieve outcomes they could not accomplish independently."

Inter-Organizational & Intra-Organizational Collaboration

Inter-Organizational

May involve different

disciplines and cultures,

outside familiar norms and practices

May involve different

disciplines but occurs within

familiar culture, norms and practices

Collaborating to LearnCollaborating to Learn

Share our thinking

Think together

Finding the right balance…Finding the right balance…

Taxonomy Taxonomy of of CollaborativCollaborative e E-learning: E-learning: Levels of Levels of CollaboratioCollaborationn

Level of Collaboration 1: Level of Collaboration 1: DialogueDialogue

Participants exchange ideas to find shared purpose and coherence in the plans and/or tactics needed to coordinate their efforts.

Level of Collaboration 2: Peer Level of Collaboration 2: Peer ReviewReview

Participants exchange work for mutual critique through peer review and incorporate others' comments.

Level of Collaboration 3: ParallelLevel of Collaboration 3: Parallel

Participants each complete a component of the project. Elements are combined into a collective final product, or the process moves to another level of collaboration.

Level of Collaboration 4: Level of Collaboration 4: SequentialSequential

Participants build on each other's contributions through a series of progressive steps. Elements are combined into a collective final product, or the process moves to another level of collaboration.

Level of Collaboration 5: Level of Collaboration 5: SynergisticSynergistic

Participants think together to collaborate fully in creation of a product that meshes each one’s contributions into a whole.

Trust ContinuumTrust Continuum

As collaboration increases, so does the need for trust. In collaborative efforts, trust is:

"the confidence that a person is competent to reach a goal and

is committed to reaching it." (Handy, 1995)

Building Trust and Respect Building Trust and Respect

Trust-Building LoopTrust-Building Loop

Strategic or Organizational: Form expectations about collaboration based on reputation, past behavior or agreements

Personal:Have enough trust to take the risk needed to initiate or move to next level of collaboration

(Adapted from Huxham & Vangen, 2005)

Building Trust & Respect Through Building Trust & Respect Through DialogueDialogue

Listening and responding to each other;

Providing affirmative comments;

Including everyone;

Making decisions Summarizing key

points.

Listening and responding to each other;

Providing affirmative comments;

Including everyone;

Making decisions Summarizing key

points.

Getting acquainted.Committing to common purpose.Organizing the project, establishing roles, norms and procedures.Speaking with a common language.

Exchange work for mutual critique.

Learning to Give and Receive Learning to Give and Receive Feedback through Online Peer Feedback through Online Peer ReviewReview • Assess which elements

to include in collaborative project– or which elements need revisions.

• Provide respectful, constructive criticism.

• Work within mutually acceptable boundaries and set criteria.

• Assess which elements to include in collaborative project– or which elements need revisions.

• Provide respectful, constructive criticism.

• Work within mutually acceptable boundaries and set criteria.

Understand elements of the project. Divide and allocate tasks. Set timelines and standards. Coordinate, communicate progress. Develop mutual accountability; deal with

underperforming team members and/or resolve conflicts

Edit, compile, assemble outcomes.

Organizing the Project:Organizing the Project:Parallel or Sequential CollaborationParallel or Sequential Collaboration

Connecting Arrows & Stars

All steps described previously.

Practice participatory decision-making.

Balance individual interests with group purpose.

Thinking & Creating Knowledge Thinking & Creating Knowledge Together: Synergistic Collaboration Together: Synergistic Collaboration

Organizing for Organizing for Successful CollaborationSuccessful Collaboration

Organizing for Organizing for Successful CollaborationSuccessful Collaboration

Next steps?

How can you apply these ideas to improve the collaborative process, build respectful relationships and accomplish your desired outcomes?