Chrislip Model Of Collaboration

Collaboration is an approach to problem solving that, in its essence, sounds simple. Chrislip (2002) in The Collaborative Leadership Field Book describes the basic underlying principle of collaboration as brining the right people together, with good information, guided by an effective process. Trying to decipher exactly what that means is not so simple. Who are the appropriate people? How do we know we have good information? What does an effective process look like? It is also necessary to determine under what circumstances a collaborative process is suitable. If a problem needs an immediate answer, collaboration may not be appropriate. Collaboration takes time. It is more conducive to finding solutions for complex issues involving diverse

Chrislip’s process includes four main parts that are divided into several steps. The first three stages are related to planning while the final stage is dedicated to implementation. The main parts are; getting started, setting up for success, working together, and moving into action. In getting ready for a collaborative approach to solving a problem it is first necessary to understand the political dynamics of the community involved. This means understanding if the community is ready to address the issue. Has there been an effort in the past to solve the problem? What was the outcome? Has collaboration ever been attempted? What and how much conflict surrounds the issue being addressed? Answering these questions helps determine whether or not collaboration is possible. It also, helps define a clear purpose and a focused direction. This first step is about asking the community for their opinions through focus groups and interviews with individuals. Building trust and providing a safe place for citizens to speak openly about their concerns is paramount. Once the leaders have gained some insight into how the community views the issue, deciding on a strategy is the next step. Collaboration works parallel to the system, or government, as opposed to against it. Instead of an us versus them attitude, collaboration is a method that promotes inclusion where citizens work in conjunction with political entities and

This is about building relationships on a deeper level. People want to feel like they are integral to the group. They want to know their voice matters. Chrislip (2002) states process expert facilitate this by designing “…experiences that transform how stakeholders see each other” (pp. 95). Facilitators must ensure that stakeholders feel safe enough to openly dialog without fear of scrutiny. As the group shares ideas, thoughts, and opinions, trust is built. The stake holders begin to care about each other and the project before them. They become willing to engage on a deeper level. They can then accept information from the content experts and continue to dialog in order to analyze the information for strengths and weaknesses. Through open dialog, new opportunities may arise, and threats to the project can be identified. This is known as SWOT. Lastly, the group must decide what actually needs to be done. This is usually accomplished by using a combination of visioning, collaboration, and strategic planning. Open mindedness, respect, dialog, and trust are three key elements to understanding what needs to be done to accomplish the vision of the stakeholder