A Model for Community Collaboration

Collaboration seems to be the model for our times, and it should be. No single person or group can solve the sticky problems that are seemingly entrenched in our education, justice and economic systems. Indeed, solving societal problems requires the engagement of that society — and that requires collaboration. But collaboration that doesn’t engage a diversity of opinion can often miss the intended mark, and sometimes even shoot in the wrong direction entirely. ACS makes a conscious effort to include input and action from diverse groups of stakeholders in every project. That’s why we love this article from collaboration guru Michelle Miller of MMBD (Michelle Miller Business Design). Michelle’s comprehensive Stakeholder Map for Collaboration not only takes into account the differences in background or role that different stakeholder groups may have, but their variations in perspective in relationship to those roles. Some stakeholders may serve as visionaries, exploring what’s possible, while others provide a clear picture of the current reality. Some may be skilled at defining program objectives, while others can see the paths that will lead to accomplishing those objectives. All are joined by a common purpose – a common answer to the question, “why are we doing this?”  We love the complexity and synergy of this model, because it reflects the messy truth and inspiring potential that are borne of human interactions. What more engaging work could there possibly be?