Practices that Support Partnership Building



In the projects observed, partnership implementation was achieved only when people in charge of carrying out program activities knew what to do, how to do it, and were also provided with resources to maintain their understanding throughout the implementation process. These three prerequisites led to ongoing role clarity for all participants on both the conceptual and applied levels. Strategic staffing allowed several partnerships undertaking complex organizational or reform activities to provide managerial or technical support, or both, that assisted in clarifying roles and relationships.

Practices that Support Partnership Building Strategic staffing involves both political and practical aspects. First, the partnership must be certain that key staffs are endorsed by the participants they will interact with. If no one is willing to approach the person for help, the role of technical support and assistance will go unfilled. Additionally, when partners have little confidence in the abilities or commitment of key partnership staff, potentially valuable relationships may fail to reach their potential and may limit the success of the partnership. Second, the partnership must match key personnel to the resource position in terms of previous experience or in terms of providing adequate training and regular in-service to ensure the practical value of the person-as-resource. More>>

Practices that Support Partnership Building. Poston Partners In Education. 1996. English.