It’s really an exciting time. It seems that every day there’s another article or blog about the critical role collaboration is playing in helping organizations succeed. A really good example was the two-day—July 27 & 28—inaugural greaterthan > conference held in Portland, Maine (see http://www.greaterthanconference.com). The conference attracted about 200 people and focused on the new models of collaboration between corporations, non-profit organizations, institutions of higher learning and governmental agencies to promote innovative solutions to the complex challenges we face, at home and around the world.

To be honest, we were thrilled that the gathering was even taking place. As many of you know, we’ve been on a mission for the past 10 years writing and speaking about collaborative networks based on our research and consulting activities assisting organizations as they’ve transitioned to collaborative business models. Everyone we spoke with at the conference had a hunger to learn as much as they could about how to help their organizations achieve its objectives while at the same time transforming how work gets done.

The anecdotes were as vivid as they were compelling. Whether listening to the Greensburg, Kansas EF5 tornado recovery story or how to create pathways out of poverty or growing vegetables to feed the poor in the Congo or how to build partnerships to save the planet — it’s clear that multi-sector collaboration is the secret sauce in making all this possible.

We were delighted to be a sponsor and to speak to the group about how to successfully construct partnerships and manage collaboration. We stressed the need to manage the work of the collaboration AND manage the collaboration. And while not easy to do, it nevertheless must be done.

The metamorphosis has begun. There is no doubt that we are in a time of profound transformation in ways of working, creating value, structuring and managing organizations. The good news is that gatherings like the greaterthan > conference help to create the understanding and ability to succeed.

The signs have been apparent for many years. Fundamental change is upon us. No, not the type we experience with every budget cycle, but systemic and structural change. Quite simply, no one organization has sufficient resources – either intellectual, structural, or financial – to tackle the complex problems of business and society and take advantage of the opportunities our globally integrated world presents.

Thus, the need for a collaborative way of working.

In collaboration, valuable resources, such as insight, knowledge, and relationships, are leveraged, activities coordinated to get the maximum output relative the time and energy expended, and process ensures that the right information gets to the right person at the right time.

Collaboration is work and all too often achieving desired outcomes is hindered by organizational structures and incentives that work at cross purposes. Individuals aren’t skilled in collaborative ways of working and don’t appreciate the give and get of relationship currencies.

Our new website is loaded with content to share what we’ve learned over the past ten years about innovating and succeeding by working collaboratively. It includes many of the frameworks we’ve developed to guide individuals and organizations through the complexity of working in networked environments, be they strategic alliances, consortia, public-private partnerships, or boundary-spanning teams.

The blog will be the place where we comment on all things related to the organization and management of collaborative endeavors. We welcome discussion, comments, and questions.

We’re participating in the Greater Than Conference taking place in Portland, Maine from Sunday through Tuesday. www.greaterthanconference.com. It is all about new types of partnership and cross-sector relationships. We’ll blog about the conference and share what we learn!