ABSTRACT
The antecedents to partnership are embedded on individual and organizational levels. What motivates an individual to buy into the partnership may differ from what motivates an organization to seek out or begin a partnership, yet both sources contribute to partnership formation. This chapter provides a template for individuals, collaborators, and organizations to help inform and guide their own partnership endeavors. To illustrate the process, the authors use a case study involving the community colleges in Massachusetts throughout this chapter to highlight the various levels of leadership, motivators for partnership formation, and development of partnership capital. The project, Massachusetts Community Colleges and Workforce Development Transformation Agenda (MCCWDTA), involves a number of key stakeholders: community colleges, the Commonwealth’s adult basic education and workforce development systems, and industry stakeholders. The focus of the MCCWDTA is to transform the delivery of education and training programs in Massachusetts and serve as a model for others.
