Partnerships
A key part of our work is to encourage partnerships - engaging the community, the voluntary, the statutory and the private sectors. By working together we can improve the services to the people living and working in Newcastle.
The Audit Commission defines partnership as -
Joint working arrangements where partners:
- Are otherwise independent bodies
- Agree to co-operate to achieve a common goal
- Create a new structure or process to achieve the goal
- Plan & implement a jointly agreed programme
- Share relevant information
- Pool risks and rewards
According to Rosabeth Moss-Kanter all successful partnerships should have 8 i's:
Individual Excellence | Partners have something of value to contribute. They are good at their core business. |
Importance | Partners share major strategic objectives in common so they want to make the partnership work. |
Interdependence | The partners need each other. They have complementary skills. They cannot do separately what they can achieve together. |
Investment | Partners are willing to invest long term and are willing to commit resources - in terms of time, people and/or money. |
Information | Partners are willing to share information. There is an open relationship. |
Integration | Partners develop linkages and shared ways of doing things. |
Institutionalisation | The relationship is given a formal status with clear responsibilities and decision-making processes. |
Integrity | Partners behave in an honourable way and do not undermine each other. |
