Collaboration brings many benefits to those who choose to embrace it. Increased knowledge, reduced costs and the power of many acting as one, are just a few.
Cooperatives are a prime example of how collaboration can work to reduce costs by increasing buying power. When large-scale buyers form a buying group, such as a cooperative, members are able to purchase goods in bulk - resulting in cost savings to both the member organizations, and to the end-user consumer.
In the corporate world, many small businesses will collaborate through the sharing of resources. It is not uncommon for an office comprised of several small businesses to share a central reception and office technology centre, thus reducing the cost for each business while allowing for crucial resources that otherwise might be finacially out of reach.
Most charitable organizations are well-practised at operating on a shoestring budget and making the most of limited resources. Many are known for being innovative in times of extreme need. Will the recent economic crisis see even more innovation and creativy from the charitable sector? Will charities forge new partnerships in an effort to build or maintain capacity, and what lessons can the for-profit and not-for-profit organizations learn from each other?
If you have any great examples of collaboration, we'd love to hear about them.
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