Clear Lines of Authority

To ensure clear lines of authority within a collaborative, Kraemer (1993) suggests that the roles and responsibilities of each partner should be clearly defined. Staff members should know who is responsible for what in the partnership. The collaborative also should establish authority lines that facilitate the work of professional staff rather than complicate it, implement participatory leadership, and institute a middle-level authority structure to ease operations. This structure provides accountability, clarity, and coherence to the work of the group.

Kirst and Kelley (1995) note, "From the very first contact with other agencies, an atmosphere of mutual respect and collegiality, or shared responsibility and control, must pervade" (p. 36).