ABSTRACT
The terms “cooperation,” “coordination,” and “collaboration” are similar in that they all mean “working together.” However, they are profoundly different concepts. Figure 13.1 indicates the differences between these three methods of working together. At the more basic level, cooperation is highlighted by relatively short time horizons, loose informal relations, complete retention of power and authority by the players, and a shared sense of the transient nature of cross-boundary activity. Coordination is cooperation that has been slightly institutionalized with a longer duration, perhaps some more formal rules and channels of communication, and a sense that the relationship between players is less transient. Like cooperation, coordination still retains all power and authority with the players who can stop working together when doing so appears to be no longer in their interests. Collaboration is coordination on steroids. It occurs when the players virtually create a new structured relationship between themselves that shares power and authority in a way that recognizes the importance and rights of each player as well as the importance and rights of the collaborative taken as a whole. To us, regional governing is not just cooperation or even coordination. Indeed, it is reasonable to argue that regional cooperation and a fair degree of regional coordination presently occurs within our metropolitan areas. Neither of those will suffice to truly govern a metropolitan region. That will require the collaboration of building blocks.
