How to Make Collaboration Work

Every day we work with others to solve problems and make decisions, but the experience is often stressful, frustrating, and inefficient. In How to Make Collaboration Work, David Straus, a pioneer in the field of group problem solving, introduces five principles of collaboration that have been proven successful time and again in nearly every conceivable setting. Straus draws on his thirty years of personal and professional experience to show how these principles have been applied by organizations as diverse as Ford Motor Company, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Harvard Business School Publishing, Boston Public Schools, Kaiser Permanente, the city of Denver, and many others. How to Make Collaboration Work shows how collaboration can become a joy rather than a chore-a kind of chemical reaction that releases far more energy than it consumes.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Introduction: The Power of Collaborative Action Part I: The Fundamentals 1: The Process of Human Problem Solving Part II: The Principles of Collaboration 2: Involve the Relevant Stakeholders 3: Build Consensus Phase by Phase 4: Design a Process Map 5: Designate a Process Facilitator 6: Harness the Power of Group Memory Part III: Putting It All Together 7: Facilitative Leadership 8: Collaborative Organizations 9: Collaborative Communities 10: Where to Go from Here Resources Bibliography Additional Models About Interaction Associates About the Interaction Institute for Social Change Index About the Author

About the Author :
David Straus founded Interaction Associates in 1969. Over the years, he has served in every major leadership position in the company, including president, CEO, and chairman of the board. Under his guidance, Interaction Associates has become a recognized leader in organizational development, group process facilitation, training, and consulting. Mr. Straus guided the development of Interaction Associates' consulting practice and training programs. He was also responsible for major change efforts in a variety of organizations, including the health care and service industries. He has worked with social action partnerships in Newark, New Jersey, and Palm Beach County, Florida, as well. Mr. Straus earned a Bachelor's degree from Harvard University and a Master's degree in architecture from Harvard's Graduate School of Design. With grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and the Carnegie Corporation, he conducted re- search in creativity and developed training programs in problem solving. Mr. Straus also coauthored the bestseller How to Make Meetings Work (Jove Books, 1976). David Straus lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with his wife, Patricia. They have two daughters, Sara Landis and Rebecca Straus.

Review :
"Lawyers, consultants, accountants and managers need to learn how to manage conflict and build effective teams. David Straus captures in this lively book all the best learning about how professionals can facilitate collaboration." -Robert H. Mnookin, Williston Professor of Law, Chairman, Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School