PARTNERSHIP
Our partnership practice is based on research, consulting assignments and training that began in 1994 and resulted in the Government of Canada’s first publication on proper collaboration practices (The Federal Government as ‘Partner’: Six Steps to Successful Collaboration; Treasury Board of Canada, 1995).
To be fruitful, partnering must be disciplined. A disciplined approach to partnering follows a logical arc:
- The decision to partner reflects strategic considerations and tactical choices, culminating in a yes-no decision based on analysis of all the advantages versus costs and risk.
- Partnership implementation begins with an explicit agreement that clearly sets out expectations and roles. After operations that require an exceptional level of communication, partners should either agree to continue or transition out of the partnership, based on sound monitoring and evaluation.
A dozen key points sum it up:
DECIDE IT
- Mission fit
- Strategic importance
- The right partner
- Expected benefits
- Contributions, associated costs
- Governance and management
- Risks
- Cost-benefit summary, business case
DO IT
- Agreement and accountability
- Attitudes and behaviours
- Communications
- Feedback, evaluation
This is Agora’s own approach to partnering. It underpins our consulting practice and our training offerings.
PARTNERSHIP CONSULTING SERVICES
- Tailored partnership strategies
- Tailored policies, guidelines, toolboxes and templates for planning and managing partnership
- Checklists, templates and drafting assistance for partnership agreements
- Corporate sponsorship: strategy, proposition materials, agreement negotiation
- Audit of partnering capacity and readiness
- Evaluation
Please see EXPERIENCE, CLIENTS, TESTIMONIALS for examples.
PARTNERSHIP TRAINING
We facilitate learning that engages participants in their own projects. We use our own existing materials or tailor the training and materials to the client’s particular situation and needs.
Agora has presented comprehensive two-day workshops on “Productive Partnering” – public and in-house – through the University of Ottawa Centre for Continuing Education and elsewhere.
Also available for executives, middle managers and senior officers, as well as staff involved in partnering relationships:
- professional development workshops and courses (half-day, full-day or longer)
- half-day workshop on essentials of collaborative agreements
- on-site facilitation of brainstorming and learning sessions (e.g. brown-bag lunch series)
- coaching
- delivery modalities: live (in-person), webinar, Skype
Please see EXPERIENCE, CLIENTS, TESTIMONIALS for examples.
Please contact us to explore the approach that is most cost-effective and convenient for you.
