Extension Faculty Orientation Modules:
Partnerships, Relationships & Collaboration
Extension provides a unique service to many clientele. To accomplish this, extension depends on many different sources of support. One of those sources is in the form of other organizations. Examples of organizations that could support extension include United States Department of Agriculture, Florida Department of Children and Family, Florida Cattlemen's Association, March of Dimes, Better Business Bureau, and many others.
Partnerships, Relationships and Collaboration
It has long been recognized that developing partnerships that focus on the shared strengths of the participants helps to build healthy, cohesive communities. In leadership, this is recognized as collaboration. In public relations, partnerships are usually termed as relationships. Most people think of relationships existing between people, but relationships also exist between organizations. Overall, trust is about personal relationships rather than organizational relationships; which means that relationships are between people, not organizations. Because of this, organizational relationships operate the same as an interpersonal relationship, but on a larger scale. Because of the number of individuals involved with an organization, organizational relationships are difficult to establish and maintain. But, there are many benefits to establishing an organizational relationship. Some of the benefits to extension agents include increased programming and accountability of accurate information.
Why is Collaboration Important to Extension?
Collaboration impacts the communities extension works with. While you might be able to accomplish a lot by yourself, how much more could you accomplish with help?
With collaboration, two organizations can team up to provide a greater impact to clientele. It's like a triangle - you help me, I help you, and we both help the people we're supposed to be serving.
Topics
This overview provides some key components on establishing and maintaining a successful organizational relationship. The topics include:
- Defining Collaborative Partnerships and Relationships
- Benefits of Collaborative Partnerships and Relationships
- Successful Collaboration Attributes
- Establishing Collaborative Partnerships and Relationships
- Evaluation of Collaborative Partnerships and Relationships
- Collaborative Partnerships and Relationship Success Stories
- Action Plans & Templates and
- Resources.
