Demonstrating both effective and ineffective means of collaboration, this text shows the readers that good collaboration is rarely an accident; that it requires a conceptual framework, recruitment of participants, active leadership, communication, and the sharing of investment and risk, as well as reward and accountability.
Research on collaboration has grown tremendously, but a rigorous, step-by-step guide to collaborating in practice has been missing from my bookshelf. This book successfully fills that gap by introducing a comprehensive model of strategic collaboration and demonstrating thoroughly the applicability of the model with teachable case studies.-Michael McGuire, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University
This book takes a huge step forward in linking collaboration theory to practice.? The editors do practitioners a great service in developing a strategic collaboration framework and buttressing it with helpful tools and illustrative case studies. I envision professionals turning to it frequently to guide their efforts to collaborate.-James L. Perry, Distinguished Professor, Indiana University, Bloomington (USA) and Yonsei University, Seoul (South Korea)
A superb book for professional graduate programs in public administration, public health, education, and social work-full of points to keep in mind, concrete steps to take, specific tools to use, practical tips, and actual cases with lessons learned. The perfect antidote to unabashed enthusiasm for collaboration as a cure-all-we are reminded that it is often but not always desirable, should not be tried unless it will probably work, and is not attempted without careful preparation.-Charles T. Goodsell, Virginia Tech
The co-editors and collaborators have done a masterful job of focusing our attention on the increasing relevance and significance of strategic collaboration. Their collective work advances our understanding of the theory and practice of these processes, and is 'must reading' for all who are concerned with effective public service delivery across jurisdictions.-Meredith A. Newman, Florida International University; President, American Society for Public Administration; Fellow, National Academy of Public Administration
