AARE 1998 Conference Paper. Making a Difference through Effective Educational Alliances

Transcription

1 AARE 1998 Cnference Paper Making a Difference thrugh Effective Educatinal Alliances Jude Butcher, Schl f Educatin (NSW) Australian Cathlic University, Sydney, Australia. j.butcher@mary.acu.edu.au Abstract Tday we are part f an increasingly seamless educatin envirnment and a mre glbal and interrelated wrld. Decisins, whether they be explicit r implicit, t apprach educatin, research and prfessinal develpment in an islated and fragmented way is t deprive neself and thers f the rich pprtunities available and pssibly sets neself and thers up fr failure. Furthermre, an islatinist apprach des nt acknwledge the challenge f maximising benefits fr all stakehlders within the cntext f decreasing resurce allcatins frm cmmnwealth r state gvernments. This paper presents examples f hw peple frm schls, universities and cmmunity grups r businesses are cllabrating t address the educatinal challenges f tday in ways which are beneficial t all cncerned. The alliances studied are at different stages frm planning thrugh t implementatin and evaluatin. This paper presents different frms f alliances and their accmpanying features and benefits. The different case studies f alliances are analysed as a basis fr examining: principles underlying the alliance; qualities and cmpetencies required f members; scpe f the alliance; and implementatin issues. Intrductin The higher educatin sectr is giving increasing emphasis t partnerships between different educatin, cmmunity and business grups as a means f enhancing the quality f curse fferings fr students. Alliances are als an integral means f increasing ne's resurce base thrugh winning cmpetitive research and develpment grants either in the gvernment r cmmercial sectrs. There is a cntinuing need t decide hw apprpriate and effective alliances can be frmed which enhance the missin f each rganisatin while cntributing t a new visin and initiatives. These questins are t be addressed in the cntext f an increasingly seamless educatin envirnment which extends beynd state and natinal bundaries. Faculties f Educatin are drawing upn their relatinships with schls and schl systems fr curse develpment and implementatin, educatinal research and staff recruitment (Perry, Hward, Dckett and Tracey, 1998). There has been increasing emphasis n field based cmpnents f teacher educatin curses and these have been critiqued with respect t the genuineness f the partnership with questins being raised abut mutual benefits and jint decisin making (Day, 1998).

2 Gre (1995) emphasises that teacher educatin-schl partnerships r alliances d nt guarantee refrm and that their effectiveness invlves bth wrking acrss rganisatinal cultures and gaining substantial institutinal supprt "in the frm f resurces, mtives, and cmmitment". "[P]artnerships between schls and educatin faculties must be carefully frmed and nurtured" (1995, p32). The questin remains: what makes an apprpriate and effective alliance? The requirement that universities increase their incme generatin activities and ensure quality curses and services places mre emphasis n the need fr cmmercial nus, and clear accuntability and reprting prcedures (Caldrake and Stedman, 1998). Alliances between educatin institutins and business are a regular part f the American scene where alliances fcus upn a range f activities including public accuntability, setting educatinal standards, funding specific educatinal and research prgrams and extending schlcmmunity and schl-business links (The Natinal Alliance f Business Incrprated, 1996). A case study by Hansn (1998) f the Human Systems Engineering (learning) Mdel shwed effective business, university and gvernment cllabratin was assciated in part with individual rganisatins being able t pursue their wn gals within a cmmn visin and gal. The success f this alliance was als assciated with participants being able t wrk with and supprt each ther and an acknwledgment f the lnger time needed t prduce quality utcmes. In the educatin sectr many decisin makers are learning new skills in making decisins abut when and hw best t cllabrate with ther rganisatins, whether they be educatinal, cmmunity r business, t further the missin f their wn institutin. Representatives f schls, universities and ther educatinal rganisatins invlved in alliances are required t mve beynd their wn rganisatinal and prfessinal bundaries. Leidtka highlights the difficulties and challenges invlved in such cllabrative ventures. [E]ffective cllabratin is difficult t achieve in a climate f business as usual, as it relies n qualities nt present in mst rganisatins. Successful cllabratin requires the develpment f new skills, mindsets and crprate architectures. The quality f many attempts at cllabratin tday is discuraging, as any time-stressed, meeting-saturated manager will testify. The risks and effrt invlved in wrking acrss lines f business ften seem t utweigh the benefits in rganizatins where turf prtectin has been the nrm and where cmpetitin fr crprate funding has been the nly reminder f interdependence. (1997 p 286) Peple invlved in educatinal alliances need t have an understanding f hw effective educatinal alliances are develped and the issues which need t be addressed in their implementatin. This paper studies factrs and issues invlved in fur case studies f educatinal alliances in which the Schl f Educatin (NSW) at Australian Cathlic University has been invlved. An educatinal alliance was defined as a frmal agreement between tw r mre parties t wrk tgether t achieve particular educatinal utcmes. T address the issue f hw can we make a difference thrugh effective educatinal alliances the fllwing research questins were adpted fr this study:

3 What issues needed t be addressed in the develpment and implementatin f the educatinal alliances? What ethical issues needed t be addressed in an educatinal alliance? What rle did the culture f the rganisatins play in the develpment and implementatin f the alliances? What different appraches did participants adpt in the educatinal alliances? Methdlgy Fur case studies f educatinal alliances were analysed. These alliances were between the Schl f Educatin and: NSW Department f Cmmunity Services; NSW Department f Educatin and Training; Parramatta Cathlic Educatin Office; and OPTUS Cmmunicatins. These case studies were selected t prvide cntrasts in fcus and purpses, nature f the rganisatins, and histries f the alliance. Data were cllected thrugh survey and interview. A cllabrative grunded thery apprach was adpted fr the analysis f the data. The researcher's analyses and interpretatins f the data were checked with each respndent t ensure that there was agreement n the issues, appraches, and factrs that emerged frm each f the case studies. Senir members frm each f the rganisatins wh were directly invlved in managing the alliance were the participants in the study. Case studies Case Study 1: Department Of Cmmunity Services - (Manager Training Services) Histry f the alliance Cllabrative wrk with the Department f Cmmunity Services (DOCS) began in This wrk emerged frm the clse liaisn that already existed between ne member f staff at Australian Cathlic University (ACU) and DOCS staff. The frmal supprt stemmed frm the willingness f senir staff in the tw rganisatins t explre ways in which ACU's Habilitatin curse culd be ffered in mre flexible mdes t residential care assistants

4 emplyed by DOCS, particularly in rural areas. They were als cmmitted t jint applicatins fr gvernment funding t respnd t this industry training need. The prject was funded initially thrugh the New Suth Wales Gvernment's Educatin and Training Fundatin and then thrugh ACU nminating the curse fr jint Cmmnwealth/Industry funded places (40% funded by DOCS). The prject was mre attractive t ptential participants in the prgram knwing that credit wuld be granted fr the inservice curses they had already cmpleted with DOCS (Chestertn & Jhnstn, 1996). The frmalising f the alliance ccurred with agreements n specific prjects t be funded by DOCS such as the prgram fr residential care wrkers, an evaluatin study, and the develpment f cre training materials. A frmal agreement abut the nature f the alliance between the tw rganisatins is nw being prepared. The latter agreement while nt legally binding frmalises the gdwill and prvides a basis fr cntinuing cllabratin even when the current key players may change rles. This agreement will articulate the values, purpse, utcmes and review cmpnents f the alliance. The jint apprach t cmmunity needs which has emerged can be attributed t mutual gd will, cntinuity f staff in the area, tenacity in pursuing a visin fr the cmmunity, and "a willingness t mve int the unknwn" and t d sme risk management. There was always an underlying respect fr the particular rles f DOCS and ACU. Bth grups acknwledged the imprtance f the gd will and trust that had been established between the key peple invlved and the gals and values that they shared. There was mre explicit discussin f gals and values as the alliance develped ensuring that peple invlved shared similar visins bth fr the bigger picture and fr individual prjects. Outcmes and issues The cllabrative wrk has been extended beynd this first prject t include: Participatin in DOCS and ACU selectin panels; Membership f DOCS plicy cmmittees and ACU curse cmmittees; Extensin f ACU accreditatin arrangements; Frmal endrsement by DOCS f ACU curses, mdules and units; Frmal evaluatin f initial jint initiatives; Prfessinal develpment fferings fr DOCS; Discussin f jint appintments and staff exchanges; and Mving frm purchasing a service r prduct frm ACU t wrking tgether within the larger scene f respnding tgether t the needs f the cmmunity. A key pint in the develpment f the alliance was a mvement frm the "ne way traffic" f purchasing a service r prduct. While many f the students in the Habilitatin curses were DOCS emplyees there was little sense f jint cmmitment t advancing the field. The gdwill established by the curse c-rdinatr and Head f Divisin cntributed t a trusting lng-term alliance between DOCS and ACU. Regular planning and review meetings prvided frums in which the effectiveness f the prject was mnitred and a jint visin and cmmitment was develped.

5 The verarching ethical cnsideratin in the alliance was the integrity f the representatives in pursuing the gals f the alliance and f their wn rganisatins. With this basis there was pen discussin f specific issues such as apprpriate resurces and supprt fr particular prjects and jint wnership f materials. Members f bth rganisatins fund they had a cmmn understanding f each ther's cntexts as they all wrked within bureaucracies. The invlvement f staff frm bth rganisatins in cmmittees and advisry grups fr the ther rganisatin als prvided an extensive understanding f their rganisatinal cultures and cntexts. The clse knwledge f the way each rganisatin wrked enabled members f the alliance t see hw its benefits culd be extended t different levels f the rganisatins. Other issues which needed t be addressed in the develpment f this DOCS-ACU alliance included: Rle f DOCS emplyee cmpetencies within the ACU curse framewrk; Nt being cnstrained by the frmal brief r mandate and mving t a jint agenda and a shared respnsibility t children, families, and peple with disabilities; Realising that the reality is nt that each rganisatin can d it all and d it better than anybdy else t a new way f seeing the cmplementary rles f the tw rganisatins and ther grups in the cmmunity; and Acknwledging the time invlvement f staff if the alliance was t be effective at different levels f the rganisatins. Case Study 2: Department Of Educatin and Training - (Directr f Persnnel) Histry f the alliance The frmal develpment f this alliance prject began with ACU's respnse in 1997 t the request frm the Department f Educatin and Training fr expressins f interest t prvide a tailr made teacher training prgram targeted at current DET staff t becme secndary teachers. DET was lking fr an innvative and culturally suitable mdel at reasnable cst. The infrmal develpment f the alliance between ACU and DET extended acrss meetings f Deans and Heads f Schls frm the NSW Teacher Educatin Cuncil (TEC) with senir staff f DET, meetings f TEC executive with DET, and liaisn between ACU and DET n areas f mutual interest. This was building upn ACU's established prfile and credibility with the Abriginal cmmunity thrugh existing prgrams and its already extensive cllabrative wrk with DET. This Abriginal educatin prject built upn the relatinships between Schl f Educatin and Yalbalinga staff at ACU and staff in Abriginal educatin and the Persnnel units in DET. Thrugh this alliance there is a rich understanding f the needs f DET's Abriginal staff participating in the prgram. This understanding has been mutually beneficial with staff frm bth rganisatins sharing their perceptins f student needs and discussing hw best t respnd t them within the cntexts f available resurces and the students' wrk situatins. This shared cmmitment by the peple frm each rganisatin t the needs f

6 Abriginal peple, t implementing affirmative actin strategies and t being practive in addressing students' needs has been a key element f the alliance. Sme f the ther psitive features f the alliance have been: Ease f cmmunicatin between Abriginal and nn-abriginal peple invlved in the planning and implementatin f the alliance; Participatin by senir fficers f DET and ACU in key meetings t establish relatinships and plan fr the wrk f the alliance; Each rganisatin allcating apprpriate peple t wrk n the develpment and implementatin f the prgram; Regular meetings with apprpriate peple, attended r guided by senir fficers, t establish the "grund rules" and perating cnstraints f each f the rganisatins; Setting up clear prcesses fr cmmunicatin and feedback during the develpment stage and nging fllw up during the implementatin phase; DET and ACU staff being prepared t "wrk n each ther's turf"; Respect by each rganisatin and all participants f the resurce cnstraints within which the prgram is t be ffered; and A willingness t explre new ways f delivering the prgram in light f curse demands and quality, DET and ACU resurces, and staff's and students' wrk cntexts. Outcmes and issues Initial utcmes f the alliance have been the develpment f genuine prfessinal relatinships between the tw rganisatins and all participants. This relatinship tgether with the hnest and pen cmmunicatin has facilitated the develpment f a teacher educatin prgram that addresses the cultural and learning needs f DET Abriginal staff. The flexibility f bth rganisatins has allwed a mre creative apprach t be taken t the field based cmpnents f the curse. Other utcmes f the alliance have been: The develpment f a new and deeper understanding f the rle f each rganisatin and the cnstraints under which each perates. This understanding, alng with the richness each rganisatin's staff gains frm the ther, will be the genesis fr new ideas and further alliances, particularly in areas f Abriginal educatin and culture. Early identificatin f prblems, fr example students facing difficulties undertaking sme f their assignments, and slutins being implemented n a case by case basis, fr example DET prviding additinal supprt t students where necessary. Issues that have been addressed r still need addressing in the alliance have included:

7 A shared cmmitment by the senir fficers f each rganisatin t think laterally and mve utside the usual management and ther structures t facilitate the implementatin f a new and innvative mdel. This includes the senir fficer in each rganisatin being prepared, if necessary, t stretch the bundaries and take sme risks. Addressing the different RPL (Recgnitin f Prir Learning) entitlements f each student thrugh a series f "enabling units"; Reviewing selectin prcedures t ensure they are nt unnecessarily rigid; Acknwledging the time cmmitment that was required fr an effective develpment phase f the prject; Develping a jint training prgram fr student mentrs; Onging and pen cmmunicatin abut student issues and prgress; Increasing invlvement f students in the implementatin and review f the prgram; and Wrking with the Abriginal students and ther peple t incrprate research as an integral part f the field based apprach t the prgram. Key ethical issues in the alliance are hnesty and integrity in addressing the demands f prgram quality, cultural sensitivity, respnsiveness t student needs, and a cntinuing awareness f the key teacher demand areas in DET's emplyment prgram. Maintaining a central fcus n Abriginal issues and the cultural demands f the prgram has facilitated a creative and pen apprach t cultural issues. The regular meetings f all invlved have assisted peple in understanding the rganisatinal cultures within which the prgram is being implemented and resurced. Case Study 3: Parramatta Cathlic Educatin Office-(Directr f Religius Educatin and Educatinal Services) Histry f the alliance Parramatta Cathlic Educatin Office (CEO) and ACU established a Liaisn Cmmittee in 1993 fr the purpse f explring pssibilities f cperatin between the tw rganisatins in a practive way, acting as a means f maintaining cmmunicatin n matters f mutual interest and fr wrking n immediate pririties f curse delivery. The Cmmittee cnsisted f three senir staff frm each rganisatin respnsible fr curse delivery and prfessinal services. Immediate pririties fr 1993 included academic credit, mdes f ffering f curses, guidelines n staffing fr particular curses, csts fr delivery f curses and services and explring ways in which CEO and ACU culd cperate in research prjects. Other matters cnsidered in 1993 included staff secndments and exchanges. The Cmmittee has cntinued t meet fur times a year and thugh there has been change in sme membership tw members frm each rganisatin have been present acrss the life f the Cmmittee. The Liaisn Cmmittee has an versighting rle but n direct management rle with respect t particular initiatives. This acrss-rganisatinal structure has allwed the alliance between the tw rganisatins t develp "mre in the nature f an nging relatinship within which a range f initiatives emerge."

8 There have als been annual meetings f the Directrs f the CEO with Pr-Vice Chancellr, Dean and Heads f Schl frm ACU and annual meetings f staff frm the tw rganisatins. These sets f meetings have facilitated cmmunicatin and invlvement f peple at different levels f the rganisatins. There is als significant participatin by staff in bards, chapters, cmmittees and wrking grups f the ther rganisatin. Several staff have been invlved as mentrs fr staff frm the ther rganisatin. Prfessinal netwrks extend acrss many areas and levels f the tw rganisatins and have been the surce f a range f curse, prfessinal develpment and research initiatives. The develpment f the alliance between the CEO and ACU has been enhanced by cmmn values and educatinal visin, a cmmitment t a strng Cathlic presence in the brader educatinal sectr, a willingness t share expertise, and a cmmitment t being efficient in the use f resurces. The alliance was given a directin mre than bundaries and has been very effective in helping peple "keep pace with rapidly shifting agendas". Key qualities in the peple wh have made the alliance a reality are gd cmmunicatin skills, cmmitment t the greater gd, flexibility, sensitivity and a sense f humur. Outcmes and issues The alliance has shwn hw the tw rganisatins can accmplish much mre tgether than either rganisatin culd have dne alne. There is a sense f pride and achievement in what has been accmplished thrugh the clse cperatin, mutual supprt and sharing f expertise and resurces. Sme f the specific utcmes r achievements have included: Offering f specific pstgraduate curses in Religius Educatin and Educatinal Leadership; Jint prfessinal develpment prgrams such as ELIM which is a natinal residential prgram fr educatinal leaders; Articulatin f prfessinal develpment int frmal award curses as in TESOL; Establishment f University partner schl and an ACU Learning Centre in Western Sydney; Jint staff psitin in scial justice and christian values, staff secndment in TAS, and staff exchange f services; Jint develpment f field based learning initiatives; and Increasing attentin t the research needs f the schls and system. In the early days f the alliance there were issues related t territries and t the persnalities f peple invlved in sme f the initiatives. These sets f issues have been addressed thrugh "frmalising" understanding f rles, emphasising the imprtance f meeting the needs f bth rganisatins, use f infrmal netwrking and cmmunicatin, and "plain perseverance". A cntinuing issue fr sme initiatives, particularly in the area f field based learning, was resurcing. Addressing this issue required mre flexibility n the part f ACU and an increasing awareness that resurcing sme initiatives needed t be acrss mre than ne calendar year. These tensins draw attentin t a majr ethical questin which has had, and still needs, t be addressed in particular prgrams and initiatives: that is whether particular strategies are being adpted because they save mney r because f their inherent learning r educatinal value.

9 The frmal and infrmal netwrks have facilitated the understanding f the situatins and cultures in each rganisatin. At times there have been lapses in the understanding f the realities f the ther party which have been addressed thrugh bradening the cmmunicatin base by including mre staff and being practive in anticipating the cmmunicatin needed t facilitate future initiatives. Case study 4: OPTUS Cmmunicatins - (Educatin Manager/Strategic Accunt Manager) Histry f the alliance OPTUS Cmmunicatins, the Schl f Educatin at ACU and the Edmund Rice Centre fr Justice and Cmmunity Educatin (ERC) frmed an alliance twards the end f 1997 fr the develpment f a series f scial justice TV prgrams. The first series f TV prgrams, "Where t Australia?", fcussed n scial justice issues fr senir schl students. During 1998 a secnd series, "Surces f Hpe", was planned fcussing n prfessinal develpment fr teachers and peple in the cmmunity. The alliance between OPTUS and ACU was extended during 1998 t include a tw year, jint research prject int the effective use f bradband cmmunicatins fr the delivery f flexible learning. The planning and scheduling f the tpics fr the tw TV prgrams fr 1998 invlved senir staff frm each rganisatin. The first TV series, "Where t Australia?", was designed t be a learning and assessment tl fr pstgraduate students in ACU adult and cmmunity educatin curses at. The secnd series invlved staff frm acrss all areas the Schl f Educatin. The cllabratin between the three rganisatins ccurred at several levels frm senir staff t technicians. Adult and cmmunity educatin curses were chsen as the majr grup fr the first series because: The tpics addressed areas f public steretypes, values and misinfrmatin and needed t be researched by the participants; Current and authritative infrmatin and scial critique were essential; and The issues addressed and the apprach taken were suitable fr an educatinal cable channel. The research prject was planned jintly by senir staff frm OPTUS and ACU thus ensuring the utcmes wuld benefit bth parties. Cperatin in the research at the levels f bth senir staff and peple invlved in particular initiatives has meant that staff frm bth rganisatins have gained frm accessing current knwledge and best practice in the use f bradband technlgy fr learning. Fr bth f these initiatives, the TV prgrams and the research prject, the cming tgether f the technical expertise frm OPTUS and the scial justice expertise frm ERC and the learning and scial justice expertise at ACU cmplemented each ther. Mre explicit criteria

10 emerged during the first twelve mnths f bth prjects fr addressing prcedural issues and gauging the quality f the utcmes. Thrughut the alliance the ease f cntact f staff frm bth rganisatins, the interactin f staff acrss different levels, and the hnesty with which issues were raised and discussed were a key strength f the alliance. There was always an explicit respect fr each ther's area f expertise and a readiness t see hw the alliance culd respnd t changes in resurce infrastructure and take advantage f develpments in technlgy and research. Issues that arse in the implementatin f the alliance were readily addressed with decisins being made by senir staff in the alliance. Outcmes and issues The frmatin f the alliance fulfilled gals fr each f the rganisatins. It allwed OPTUS t meet its educatin cmmitment f: Wrking with the brader educatin cmmunity thrugh the prvisin f an educatin pay TV channel; and Establishing partnerships with educatin cmmunities in the trial and develpment f bradband cmmunicatins applicatins. ACU was able t extend and evaluate its prjects fr enhancing learning thrugh the use f infrmatin technlgy. ERC pursued its research and advcacy agendas with current justice issues and engaged schl and cmmunity grups in cnsideratin f these issues thrugh the medium f TV. Thrugh the bradband research prject OPTUS is better infrmed abut hw t make mre effective use f cmmunicatins in its crprate training prgrams and fr preparing multimedia slutins fr the educatin market. ACU has evaluated several key initiatives in this area including the preparatin f prgrams fr cable TV as bth a learning and a teaching tl. ACU is als researching the effectiveness f the "Where t Australia?" prgrams fr Year 11 and 12 classes. Issues included: Having sufficient staff expertise available thrugh ACU t implement the alliance at the different levels f curse develpment, TV prductin and research; Training pstgraduate students in the use f a prfessinal bradcasting tl as part f their curse assessment; Different rganisatinal perspectives n the research prject and its utcmes; Cpyright and use f material frm bth the TV prgrams and the research prject; and The prductin f the TV prgrams nt always being n schedule.

11 This last issue was due in sme cases t the demands f ther prjects, clashes in schedules and changes in prductin prcedures at the OPTUS studis, and staff changes at ACU and OPTUS. When a sufficient bank f prgrams was available mre realistic schedules were able t be prepared. The planning fr the prgrams als imprved with the develpment f prductin guidelines fr ACU staff and students and the availability f an ACU staff member fr training and mentring purpses. ACU is mving t a psitin f being able t stand alne in the prductin f these materials with the gal being that the prduct can be used in a number f frms including OPTUS Educatin Channel, packaged vide prducts and digitised material fr bradcasting ver the web. The Research Management Cmmittee insisted frm the beginning that the different rganisatinal perspectives were t be brught tgether in the ne research prject. ACU staff apprached the research frm bth an academic and curse develpmentimplementatin perspective while OPTUS apprached it frm a technical training perspective. The differences in these appraches were als addressed explicitly in the sectin f the cntractual agreement related t the publicatin f material frm the prject. Explicit attentin has needed t be given at all times t issues f cpyright and use f material frm the TV prgrams and research prject. The hnesty, integrity and respect amngst all participants in the alliance have facilitated the develpment f clear guidelines fr the reslutin f these issues. Other ethical issues have been related t the ccasinal invlvement f sme peple, when they have nt expressed the same level f respect fr thers invlved in a prject r task. This issue has been discussed penly and reslved. Discussin The analysis f the fur case studies, which were quite different in purpse, apprach, rganisatinal cntexts histry, and extent and levels f peple invlved, shwed that there are a number f factrs that cntributed t their effectiveness. The analysis f factrs cntributing t the effectiveness f each f these alliances needed t examine bth the infrmal and unexpected benefits, the frmal stated utcmes, as well as ther rganisatinal issues such as the resurce implicatins. The infrmal benefits include the visin and structures that have been develped, the inter-rganisatinal structures, the cultural and ethical understandings and unplanned initiatives. In each alliance there was a cmmitment t address scial and cmmunity issues as well as the explicit frmal utcmes f individual prjects. DOCS and ACU were cmmitted t wrking tgether fr the gd f the cmmunity, DET and ACU t addressing equity issues fr Abriginal teachers and students in educatin generally, Parramatta CEO and ACU t addressing issues related t Cathlic presence in educatin and t the larger justice agenda and OPTUS prvided ACU and ERC pprtunities t educate the wider cmmunity n justice issues. Each alliance had extended r enriched its riginal visin and was pen t new pssibilities which express the gals f the alliance and the visin f each rganisatin.

12 Organisatinally each alliance had extended its area f respnsibility beynd specific utcmes t develping a general framewrk within which the partners can make decisins abut further initiatives. Fr DOCS and the CEO there was wider scpe fr these initiatives than there was fr DET and OPTUS where the initiatives were mre explicitly related t but nt cnstrained by the frmal utcmes fr the alliance. All f the rganisatins invlved were prepared t take risks t enrich the benefits f the alliances. Each rganisatin had mved beynd buying a prduct r expertise fr itself t the hard area f wrking mutually t achieve benefits bth within and acrss rganisatins. This mutuality was pssible because the alliance became a new micr-rganisatin in which peple were cntinually wrking in each ther's area r "turf". This invlvement in each ther's turf had becme a specific fcus fr the DOCS and CEO alliances with frmal discussins abut staff exchanges and secndments. These pssibilities had begun t be discussed infrmally with bth DET and OPTUS. This requires risk taking n the part f individual staff as well as the rganisatins themselves. The mutuality was als pssible because participants in the alliance had mved thrugh a questining level f seeking greater knwledge and awareness f the different peple and their rganisatins t a deeper level f trust and supprt. This trust was develped thrugh the persnal and prfessinal integrity f all participants and the pen discussin f all issues that emerged. While the alliances had a legitimate authrity f their wn there were differences in the scpe and structure in exercising this authrity. The DET and OPTUS alliances were defined by the specific purpse f the alliance while with DOCS and CEO there was greater scpe fr the authrity that was then delegated t particular peple fr the pursuit f individual prjects r tasks. The senir participants in all f the alliances were respnsible fr prmpt, flexible decisin making with clear accuntability and cmmunicatin back t their wn rganisatin's decisin making prcesses and prtcls. They were key drivers fr ensuring that their rganisatin's cmmitments were met. A significant issue in each alliance was resurces. At n time was the alliance cnstrained by the budget fr a specific utcme. They all were invlved in identifying hw financial and staff resurces culd be allcated t particular initiatives. One f the hidden resurce csts was the time staff devted, bth within and utside scheduled meetings, t ensuring that there was easy cmmunicatin n any issue. Each rganisatin needed t examine the extent t which they had adequately resurced the time csts f the alliance and whether they assumed t much n the part f their staff. Making it part f the wrk plan fr staff legitimised their invlvement in the alliance r in ne f its specific prjects. The grwth f ther initiatives was related in part t extending the number f staff invlved in acrss rganisatinal netwrks, meetings and prjects. This increased the wnership by

13 peple wrking in different areas r levels f the individual rganisatins f the alliance and its particular prjects. This practice als assists participants in learning abut and valuing the ther rganisatin's missin, culture and cre business. The effectiveness f these alliances at the level f bth frmal and infrmal utcmes cannt be separated frm the way the participants discussed ethical and cultural issues. A key ethical issue was delivering quality utcmes within a flexible apprach t the alliance. Other ethical issues included: Maintaining persnal and prfessinal integrity; Addressing resurce issues; Ownership f materials and ideas; Ensuring that the alliance and each rganisatin derived clear benefits; A readiness t change apprach r stp an initiative when needed; and Pursuing specific prjects within peple's understanding f the greater scial and cmmn gd. Cnclusin While alliances are nt a universal panacea they d prvide a new paradigm fr rganisatins t wrk and grw tgether. The fur case studies have demnstrated that alliances explicitly bridge the seamless educatinal envirnment and ffer better than expected utcmes if managed crrectly. Fr an alliance t be effective there needs t be a sharing f visins and values, gd management and accuntability prcedures, apprpriately skilled persnnel, adequate resurces and time, a cmmitment t addressing ethical issues, and a readiness t cntinually learn mre abut the ther rganisatin's missin and culture. Alliances t be effective cannt be cnstrained by narrw perfrmance and accuntability prcedures and rigid bureaucratic prcesses as time is at a premium and flexible decisin making is crucial. Sme f the questins which need further study include: Hw d yu chse the right peple fr an alliance? Hw d yu ensure participants are skilled fr the relatinships as well as fr their rles in the alliance? What inter-rganisatinal structures enhance the effectiveness f alliances? When d yu clse dwn an alliance r prject and hw d yu d that in such a way that it affirms the value f the alliance and relatinships while addressing the need fr new visin and structures? Hw d yu chse the right prject fr the alliance? Hw des the time invested in cllegial relatinships benefit the rganisatins as a whle as well as the expected frmal utcmes?

14 Bibligraphy Chestertn, P. & Jhnstn, K. (1996) Evaluatin f the Assciate Diplma in Educatin (Habilitatin) Curse. Australian Cathlic University. Sydney. Caldrake, P. & Stedman, L. (1998) On the brink: Australia's universities cnfrnting their future. St Lucia: University f Queensland Press. Day, C. (1998) Re-thinking schl-university partnerships: A Swedish case study. Teaching and Teacher Educatin. 14, Gre, J. (1995) Emerging Issues in Teacher Educatin Cmmnwealth f Australia, Innvative Links Prject. Murdch. WA. Hansn, K. L. (1998). Human systems engineering: A learning mdel designed t cnverge educatin, business, and industry. (ERIC Dcument Reprductin Service N. ED ) Leidtka, J. M. (1997) Cllabrating acrss lines f business fr cmpetitive advantage in A. A Thmpsn Jr, A. J. Strickland III, & T. R. Kramer Readings in Strategic Management Bstn: Irwin McGraw-Hill 10th ed p Natinal Alliance f Business Incrprated (1996). Challenge f change. Standards t make educatin wrk fr all ur children. (ERIC Dcument Reprductin Service N. ED ) Perry, B., Hward, P., Dckett, S., & Tracey, D. (1998) Research in early childhd educatin: Partnerships cunt. Paper presented at the Annual cnference f the Australian Cnference fr Research in Educatin, Adelaide.