Collaboration between organizations on different continents can raise issues of economic development, health, the environment, risk sharing, supply chain efficiency and human resource management. It is an activity that can touch upon almost every aspect of business and social life. In this notable text, the authors combine rigorous theory with practical examples to create a useful, practical, one-stop resource covering topics such as:

• the principles of the theory of collaborative advantage
• managing aims
• membership structures and dynamics
• issues of identity
• using the theory.

The key features of the book include rich theory, drawn directly from practice, explained in simple language, and a coherently developed understanding of the challenges of collaboration, based on careful research. This significant text will be an invaluable reference for all students, academics and managers studying or working in collaboration.

Collaboration between organizations on different continents can raise issues of economic development, health, the environment, risk sharing, supply chain efficiency and human resource management. It is an activity that can touch upon almost every aspect of business and social life. In this notable text, the authors combine rigorous theory with practical examples to create a useful, practical, one-stop resource covering topics such as:

• the principles of the theory of collaborative advantage
• managing aims
• membership structures and dynamics
• issues of identity
• using the theory.

The key features of the book include rich theory, drawn directly from practice, explained in simple language, and a coherently developed understanding of the challenges of collaboration, based on careful research. This significant text will be an invaluable reference for all students, academics and managers studying or working in collaboration.

Interorganizational collaboration is not an easy process to implement successfully, yet it is becoming a significant means of achieving organizational objectives in turbulent environments. Creating Collaborative Advantage draws on the work of authors with a high level of relevant experience, providing a thought-provoking and highly accessible introduction to this new concept. The book begins by developing a framework of key dimensions for understanding collaboration. It highlights the differing rationales and contexts involved and the range of elements that need to be explored before embarking on collaborative endeavors. Next, the volume focuses on collaboration in practice. It examines the problems that can occur when different aims, cultures, procedures, power resources, and professional languages cross organizational boundaries, paying close attention to the importance of creating and sustaining value for the participants in these contexts. Finally, the book addresses the processes of acting as facilitator to collaborative groups, discussing how and why a third-party facilitator role can be helpful, and exploring the various processes and techniques that can be used. Creating Collaborative Advantage is invaluable reading for students and professionals in strategic management, public sector management, management science and operations research, and general management.

Inter-organizational relations (IOR), the study of Strategic Alliances, Joint Ventures, Partnerships, Networks and other forms of relationship between organizations, is a field of study that has burgeoned over the last four decades, but is fragemented, drawing contributions from a wide variety of disciplines, theoretical bases, and sectoral interests. The Oxford Handbook of Inter-Organizational Relations provides a structured overview of the field. With contributions from leading international experts on their particular areas of expertise, it is an authoritative introduction to its research findings.
The material is organized in three main sections.
The first relates to research that focuses on particular manifestations of IORs such as industry, supply, policy and project networks, public and voluntary sector partnerships, strategic alliances, and so on.
The second section relates to research that stems from distinct disciplinary or theoretical bases, including social networks, evolutionary theory, transaction cost economics, management process, psychology, critical theory political theory, economic geography, and the legal perspective.
The third section focuses on key topics in contemporary IOR topics - or those that will become so in the future. These include, trust, power, development interventions, social capital, learning and knowledge, dynamics and change, and evaluation.

Social care needs excellent leaders now more than ever. Effective leaders aim high, listen to what the service users want and need, inspire their staff and continually question what they are doing and why. This book draws together the latest research on fundamental leadership issues in social care, discussing collaborative leadership and the importance of place-based development, exploring the key disciplines of supervision, management and leadership and examining the purpose of a learning framework for social care. Comparative approaches are also provided by practitioners working outside of social work, placing leadership development in context across the public, private and voluntary sectors and presenting authoritative guidance from an international perspective. Leadership in Social Care will appeal to social care practitioners and service providers, academics, researchers and students who are passionate about making a difference for the people who use their services.