Benefits and risks of collaborative working

Collaborative working won't be right for every organisation in every case. Carefully identifying and addressing issues of concern helps establish if collaboration is the right way forward.

• New or improved services
• Wider geographical reach or access to new beneficiary groups
• More integrated or co-ordinated approach to beneficiary needs
• Financial savings and better use of existing resources
• Knowledge, good practice and information sharing
• Sharing the risk in new and untested projects
• Capacity to replicate success
• Stronger, united voice
• Better co-ordination of organisations' activities
• Competitive advantage
• Mutual support between organisations

Ultimately collaborative working should enable you better to meet your beneficiaries' needs.

• Outcomes do not justify the time and resources invested
• Loss of flexibility in working practices
• Complexity in decision-making and loss of autonomy
• Diverting energy and resources away from core aims – mission drift
• Damage to or dilution of your brand and reputation
• Damage to organisation and waste of resources if collaboration is unsuccessful
• Lack of awareness of legal obligations
• Stakeholder confusion

• Personalities
• Competition between partners
• Lack of information and experience
• Lack of resources, especially at decision-making stage
• Resistance to change
• Cultural mismatch between organisations
• Lack of consistency and clarity on roles and responsibilities

• Good personal relationships
• Compatible cultures or an understanding of different cultures
• Written agreements
• Experience of change management, leadership and vision
• Clear and agreed mutual benefits and collaborative advantage
• A focus on the big picture
• Careful planning
• ICT tools

For more guidance, read our page: Should you collaborate?