A Local-State Government Spatial Data Sharing Partnership

Chapter 3 – Collaboration, Partnerships and the Government Environment
The models of pooled and reciprocal interdependence are of particular interest with respect
to spatial data sharing partnerships between local and state jurisdictions. These models
support the notion of standardisation, formal agreements and the need for mutual
adjustment in an often dynamic environment. An understanding of the technologies,
structure of collaborative arrangement, the type of inter-organisational systems (IOS) and
the potential for conflict is also important in the often heterogeneous environment of local
government.
3.2.6 Process of Collaboration
From the literature it is evident that the process of collaboration is often difficult to
describe within a “one size fits all” process, however there are a number of common issues
that re-occur and conform to a sequence of events. Gray (1989) proposed that the
collaborative process could be examined as a three phase process which would include
problem setting, direction setting and implementation. Table 3.4 illustrates the details of
this process.
Table 3.4 The Collaborative Process (Gray 1989, p. 57)
Phase 1: Problem Setting Common definition of problem
Commitment to collaborate
Identification of stakeholders
Legitimacy of stakeholders
Convenor characteristics
Identification of resources
Phase 2: Direction Setting Establishing ground rules
Agenda setting
Organising sub-groups
Joint information search
Exploring options
Reaching agreement and closing the deal
Phase 3: Implementation Dealing with constituencies
Building external support
Structuring
Monitoring the agreement and ensuring
compliance
Gray argues that the phases may vary from collaboration to collaboration and that some
stages may need to be extended whilst others can be reduced. The first stage normally
requires a clear identification of the problem (or opportunity) as the first step. This is
followed by a more detailed investigation of the context of the problem including
identifying the stakeholders, resources, timing, possible outcomes and levels of
participation before any agreement to proceed further. The second phase enters a more
detailed level of planning to establish the ground rules, sharing of strategic information,
identifying the steps to build the collaboration, project planning and finally a formal
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