In order to make collaboration successful, participants must carefully conceive the project and competently implement, maintain, and assess it. An initial “meeting of the minds” may help begin the development of a collaborative, but it is not sufficient to operate it continually. Participants must address the following issues in order to collaborate effectively:
- Define the objectives of the collaborative initiative and make sure all partners accept them.
- Establish an administrative structure in which all partners agree to work.
- Secure appropriate funding for the initiative.
- Obtain commitment from all partners so that even if one withdraws, the collaborative would not become unstable.
- Determine measurable performance criteria by which to monitor the initiative and discuss results.
- Make the initiative’s reliance on administrators’ voluntary contributions minimal.
- Protect the initiative from the political climate as much as possible.
- Implement a public accountability model.