Important Process Considerations When Developing Partnerships

Team Representation and Governance

The partnership engages with various individuals and offices within each organization. Ideally, the initial team should include representatives from each. Involving multiple voices fosters diverse perspectives and expertise, leading to innovative solutions for successful outcomes. Team membership may evolve over time as programs develop. It is common for subgroups or focused spin-off teams to emerge. Successful partnerships dedicate substantial time and effort to building and maintaining trust across all groups involved. A clear governance structure, including roles and responsibilities, needs to be discussed, articulated, and agreed upon by all partners throughout the partnership's lifecycle. 

Benefit Analysis

Conducting a benefit analysis is crucial at the outset of any successful partnership. Each partner must understand the purpose of the collaboration and identify the specific benefits they will gain through the partnership—benefits they may not achieve independently. These benefits should be clearly defined and should outweigh the associated costs. Typically, partnership members sign an agreement that outlines the anticipated benefits and costs, which are mutually agreed upon. Questions to consider include: 

• What are the benefits to each member of the proposed partnership, including the learner?  
• How do these benefits intersect, or are they distinct? 
• How do these benefits influence the partnership's goals? 

Relationship Building

Relationship building is fundamental both across and within partnership entities. This can involve initial networking to identify potential partners and establish trust with colleagues within and outside the involved organizations. As the partnership develops and grows, the relationship-building cycle may continue in response to changes such as staff turnover or the group of entities involved in the partnership.  

Although partners should work toward common goals, conflicts may arise as each partner honors their individual goals and priorities. Therefore, initial and ongoing efforts to clarify partnership goals, roles and responsibilities, metrics, and timelines can help minimize potential conflicts. 

Communication Plans

Developing agreed-upon communication plans and protocols is vital for determining how, when, and why communication takes place among partnership members. Key questions to consider when formulating this plan include: 

• Who are the point persons for each partner? 
• How frequently will the teams meet? 
• How will information be shared with other teams? 
• What communication platform will be used to house essential partnership information (e.g., website)? 
• How will updates be communicated to partners (e.g., newsletters, status reports)? 
• How will each partner share information with learners? 
• What strategies will be employed to communicate about the partnership internally and to other entities (e.g., government officials) and the public? 

Mapping Learner Connections

Mapping learner connections across partners is essential for ensuring that learners fully realize the benefits of the partnership, improve their experiences, and strengthen relationships among partners. Identifying how and where these connections will occur is crucial. Consider the following questions: 

• How will advising and career planning offices within an educational institution connect with employer Human Resource departments and vice versa? 
• How will advising and career planning be connected to other involved groups? 
• How will learners engage with all groups and receive consistent messaging? 
• How can learners earn credentials both laterally and vertically to meet their educational and employment goals? 

This type of planning empowers learners to be well-informed about opportunities, take agency over their journey, receive consistent information from all partners, and reinforce their goals and desired outcomes. 

Funding Considerations

Funding considerations should be assessed initially and as the partnership continues to develop and grow. Identify whether external funding is needed, or if this partnership can be fully funded by the participating entities. Are there state funds that can be used? There may be opportunities for partners to apply for grants to help secure additional external funding; especially when the partnership addresses a critical learn-and-work issue or need (e.g., workforce development in a high need field through workplace offered credentials that are also incorporated in an educational credential).