Introduction to Collaborative Governance

A Multi-Agency Approach to Collaboration

This week long course explores the practice of "collaborative governance," the essential skills needed to effectively participate in these collaborative approaches, and the application of these models in public sector settings.

Objectives and Scope

Ensuring sustainable solutions for the critical and complex natural resource and other public issues that face our nation today is increasingly dependent on assuring meaningful public involvement and the establishment of effective collaborative partnerships with stakeholders. To increase their effectiveness, the public and government institutions tasked with addressing these difficult issues are shifting toward integrating more collaborative problem solving approaches. Until now, those public sector employees wanting to utilize these new governance models have been challenged by the lack of experience in applying successful collaboration problem solving approaches and the lack of training programs to teach the skills essential to effective collaboration.

"Introduction to Collaborative Governance" is specifically designed as an introductory workshop for those working in the natural resource and public sector to learn the fundamental principles of collaborative governance and develop the concrete skills needed to initiate and participate in collaborative approaches to resolve public issues. Following the classroom training, mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities can be arranged to deepen skill aquisition.

Target Participants

Leaders and managers in natural resources, public agencies, or other government settings who are interested in finding out more about the collaborative governance model, how and when to utilize these approaches in their settings with stakeholders, and how to initiate and sponsor collaborative projects to achieve their agency's mission.

Employees working in natural resources, public agencies, or other governmental setting who are curious about how to apply collaborative approaches to challenges in their setting and gain the skills needed to establish and participate in these collaborative partnerships effectively.

Participants will learn:

• How to analyze a situation and develop a "road map" to a sustainable solution
• Role of "Collaborative Governance" as an essential tool for today's leaders
• How to determine if a situation is "ripe" for collaboration
• The five stages of a collaborative process
• Communication skills for building effective relationships
• How to look for and use stakeholder interests
• Skills for working with groups
• Techniques for making decisions using consensus
• How to implement collaboration projects in their organization

Training targets the development of the following key competencies:

• Ability to identify key principles and stages of collaboration and to distinguish this approach from other public involvement processes
• Ability to analyze a situation and strategically assess the potential for collaborative success
• Ability to design a process to build collaborative relationships
• Ability to analyze the need for forum neutrality and facilitator impartiality
• Ability to think creatively and use external awareness to frame an issue for collaborative engagement
• Application of effective interpersonal communication skills to build collaborative relationships
• Use of political awareness and strategic thinking to explore and identify stakeholder interests fundamental to collaborative problem solving
• Ability to apply fundamental group facilitation skills and team building, including organizing information and tools for partnering groups
• Ability to work toward consensus and resolve impasse through negotiation and conflict resolution