ABSTRACT
The Partnership Alchemy study identified a number of dynamic pathways that were consistently raised in various forms in different studies as being critical determinants of effectiveness and efficiency. The UK-based Innovation through Partnership initiative has built on the Business Excellence Model (BEM) in exploring the innovation effects of partnerships. The BEM, created by the European Foundation for Quality Management, is used by many companies, particularly in Europe, and an increasing number of not-for-profit organisations. The civil-society actors—the eclectic blend of non-governmental organisations (NGOs)—are unprepared for power and remain unable to effectively handle the politics of engagement rather than marginalised resistance. NGOs join forces to campaign for new legislation to secure environmental improvements, and to influence corporate governance. Equally they work closely with business and government in mobilising resources to battle disease and poverty. Equally, governments join with business in bringing private finance to public projects, and to inject public finance into private business.
