The idea and practice of collaborative working is rooted in the long held
belief that we are better together than apart. It has its basis in the concepts
of "the tragedy of the commons," the folly of the "zero sum game" and
many years of research into the benefits of cooperation rather than acting
alone. Indeed, our very survival as a species is often predicated on
examples of cooperative as opposed to selfish action.
Trust can take years to build. It is based on a process of initial cooperation
where sharing activities makes sense to ensure consistency of approach.This foundation is often developed through a process of gradually
increasing engagement whereby each participant brings potentially
greater benefits to the relationship. These benefits, if they are to make
sense, generally outweigh what would have been achieved by each actor
acting alone. As trust builds over time, successful collaboration follows,
where working together results in the creation of something new,
ambitious and far more than the sum of its parts.
Yet recent events indicate that this notion of "trust based" action and
decision making at the international and national level is unravelling.
Many nations now consider that their future development and survival is
best achieved by "going it alone." Years of international cooperation are
rapidly being eroded.
In this paper, she describes the current challenges and advocates a model
of trust which can bring organisations and nations together for the greater
good, and that works in times of uncertainty and change.