ABSTRACT
Collaboration is rich with potential, and is often seen to offer greater possibilities than solitary working. A set of stock phrases have grown up to give expression to this sense of promise that we associate with collaborative working. Huxham (1996) talks of the ‘collaborative advantage’ that arises when we work together. Kanter (1994) also speaks of ‘creating new value together’ and collaboration leading to a ‘stream of opportunities’. And we could go on to quote numerous other authors. But why is collaborative activity viewed in this way? What does collaboration allow, what does it look like and what are we doing when we collaborate?
