Collaboration

Collaboration is a core marker of Participatory Quality Development. The emphasis here is on the participation of all stakeholders who are important for the planning, implementation and evaluation of health promotion and prevention projects. The particular collaboration between target group, funding body and service organisation lies at its heart: it is in this three-way relationship that specific activities are conceptualised and carried out. In many cases, other stakeholders also contribute substantially to decision-making.

The “Threesome” for Targeting Social Determinants in Health Promotion

Through building collaboration among stakeholders, Participatory Quality Development aims to create a situation where contributing stakeholders can name their often diverging interests and perspectives and negotiate solutions. This should be done following certain basic principles. Based on unrealistic assumptions (collaboration myths), the effort required for successful collaboration is often underestimated. Strong participation by all stakeholders can only be guaranteed when it is made clear who contributes to decision-making processes, and to what extent (see also Circles of Influence). A variety of factors can promote or hinder successful collaboration.

Authors:
Wright/Block/Unger