Partnership is puzzling together

Summer camp, 1954. A group of twelve-year-old boys enjoys an unforgettable holiday. Unsuspectingly, they participate in one of the best-known socio-psychological experiments revolving around group processes. Without having ever met each other, they are divided into two groups that are unaware of each other’s existence. In the first week they perform all sorts of activities that lead to strong group bonding. It isn’t until the second week that the group learns of the other group’s existence. Prejudices and stereotypes towards the others arise and are reinforced by competitions with great rewards. How can two groups with different views of one another work together effectively?

Perception of the partnership

When designing and establishing agile, digital organizations, we notice that organizations increasingly opt to work together with partners. However, more often than not I see that views among these partners towards collaboration differ, and that each party – either consciously or unconsciously – forces its own view on the other parties under the guise of ‘best practices’. The risk arises that one party may not feel heard. There is no real cooperation.

Common vision

In the experiment, the groups of boys are confronted with a broken water supply system. Only by working together as a group this puzzle can be solved. At Anderson MacGyver, we solve the complex puzzle of organizing collaboration among parties by visualizing this on a large poster with all concerned parties together at the same time. This reveals the entire governance, laid down in consultation structures at strategic, tactical, and operational level. In addition, the poster displays guiding principles towards collaboration and a shared vision. The poster itself is the tangible result. At least as important is the process of collaboration. A dialogue is created in which different perspectives and views are exchanged. Together, we come to new solutions.

Think in possibilities, together.