ABSTRACT
All partnerships, of whatever category, have a natural lifecycle; they go through the
following stages:
The initial concept will emerge from a number of sources; in the case of statutory
based partnerships the concept will be set out in the relevant legislation or
government publication. The concept to initiate a voluntary based partnership will
also often be prompted by government action but is equally likely to arise from within
one particular organization (or even from a single individual within that organization)
reacting to particular circumstances. Commercially based partnerships will be created
to meet a particular need, usually identified by a public agency but sometimes by an
agency from another sector.
