Syndicom

Avoiding A “Loss” Collaborative Outcome

Collaborations are often very productive, and important for the learning organization. Collaborators will lend expertise and improve the impact and reach of your organization’s projects and initiatives. However, not all organizations are the same, nor are the collaborations. Launching a collaborative project with the wrong collaborator could damage an organization’s initiatives and projects, and could potentially lead to financial loss. The goal: avoiding a “loss” outcome. Prior to entering into a collaborative agreement, think carefully. The right project, pilot or program needs to be “right”. Your objective is to ask the team how a collaboration could benefit you, and at what cost.

Step 1: Set Up And Review The Project Goals

Are the collaborators on the same page? Goal setting drives collaboration! The goal needs to be specific and visible to all the members of the team. Most importantly, every project member needs to agree on the desired outcome. From a software perspective, and through the use of project collaboration tools, the goal should be visible with time lines associated. A visible goal with deadlines is a goal worth meeting.

Step 2: Identify And Confirm The Potential Collaborators

Has the collaborator already worked with internal stakeholders or similar groups such as a public health organization, a community-based group, or a university? References could give you valuable input regarding the decision to collaborate with the potential collaborator.

Step 3: Is The Collaborator A Good Fit

Does the collaborator (could be a company here) have similar mission and values as your organization? Will the collaborator commit to the project goals? Is your time line the same as their time line? Are they open communicators? Collaboration is a learned skill and not everyone can do it. In order to understand the value of the collaborator and “what they bring to the table”, it is important to set up an interview process. The entire team will want to know how the collaborator will participate and on what level.

Step 4: Examine The Project With The Collaborator

Some potential questions to ask the potential collaborator…

What are the benefits to your organization of entering into this collaboration?
When have they done similar work (are they an expert?)
Are the open to sharing ideas and concepts with the collaborative group?
What are the benefits to the potential partner of working with you?
Why do they want to work with your organization?
What does the collaborating organization want in return?
What is the timeline? When would the collaboration begin and end? Be specific.

Step 5: Review And Invite

Formalizing a collaborative agreement is your next best step! By documenting the terms and conditions, both parties can review and consent to the arrangement with confidence. Once the collaboration is formalized, routinely review and evaluate the arrangement to ensure both parties are satisfied. Key milestones throughout the agreement could serve as appropriate dates for review. Next, the project collaboration software you use, should invite them to join the collaboration and then, like we mentioned above, allow them to view the goals and steps to reach the desired outcome.

Special thanks to the creative genius of Karoly Lorentey for the wonderful picture.

Tags: adoption of technology, clinician collaboration, collaborative, continuum of care, equity allocation, faculty support, faculty support services, health 2.0, healthcare, in patient care, innovation networks, Jim Youssef, medical community, online community, open source software, opensource software, partnering, partnering with, partnership, patient care, Ray Miles, scalable innovation, scott capdevielle, spine connect, surgeon network, surgeon training, syndicom, technology adoption, web 2.0 health