High-Performance Partnerships - National Academy of Public ...

“Creating a partnership takes time. Folks must
get comfortable with it. They must own it if the
partnership is to survive.”
Jane Henegar, Family Strengthening Coalition (Indianapolis)
resources in a more coordinated manner and
minimize service gaps and duplication. In
addition, partners can leverage their expertise
and other assets. Each agency contributes its
own special know-how, set of contacts, and
information sources to the accomplishment of
the partnership’s overall mission. Through
sharing, the partnership can harness more
resources collectively than any one entity could
on its own. This ensures that more assets are
in place to work toward the established goals.
A partnership also can maximize opportunities
to obtain additional resources. It can activate
new participants that bring added strengths,
such as money, advocacy, marketing, experience,
communications, research, and education.
As these resources are added to the mix,
the partnership can link its outcomes to the
new partner’s mission. This is a sign of true
commitment that ensures the partnership’s
viability and sustainability. On a related note,
collaborating on a jointly developed strategic
plan can reduce the inefficiency that generally
accompanies uncoordinated activities. So, cost
savings—at least in terms of unit costs—can
be an important by-product.
STAKEHOLDER COMMITMENT
AND PARTICIPATION
A high-performance partnership creates relational
benefits in the community. It can
expand dialogue among stakeholders on an
issue and galvanize them around an action
plan. Increased public, business, nonprofit,
and civic involvement raises awareness levels
and the opportunity to better understand
other cultures, values, and limitations. The
partnership opens lines of communication
among community-based organizations that
“High-performance partnerships are a mechanism
for leaving autonomy at the door and working
together on a higher goal. Other relationships
that reserve more control or require less commitment
by each partner cannot achieve results that
are as deeply rooted in the community. That commitment
and relinquishing of control send a signal
that inspires greater trust. You need trust to push
through the hard choices and to work toward significant
results.”
Design Lab Discussion
“Neighborhood Based Service Delivery puts a
face on city government. That had not happened
before, even though neighborhood associations
worked with city officials for a decade
prior to the partnership.”
Maureen Van Syoc and Connie Cook, Neighborhood
Based Service Delivery (Des Moines)
19 Powering the Future: High-Performance Partnerships