ABSTRACT

Collaboration builds upon the contributions of a range of relevant stakeholders, those individuals and groups who both influence and are influenced by the issues being addressed. Collaborative programs are flexible and context-dependent; the structure of any given collaboration and the relative quality and quantity of stakeholder responsibilities depend upon the nature of the particular issue being addressed and the availability of resources. At the same time, the underlying premise of any collaborative effort is that resources, power, authority are shared and people are brought together to achieve a common goal that could not be accomplished by a single entity, individual, or organization independently. Collaborative efforts acknowledge and engage potentially wide range stakeholders that influence and are influenced by the issues or goals being addressed. The inclusion of multiple stakeholders stems from, and is best achieved by, the consideration of influential factors within many different systems.