Beyond simple networks, partnerships require the commitment of the agents to work fully together to address problems and opportunities. This means they must accept long term structures that work toward sustained commitment to change and the achievement of quality. They must also accept an active commitment to changing the internal operations of each agent and helping other agents to change to achieve an improved system overall. Hence networking alone is largely passive, whereas partnerships require active participation (Mackintosh 1992).
The bringing together of representatives from different sectors / communities of interest to agree and work together towards set goals. Effective working partnerships require extensive investment of time and effort in planning, including clear details of roles, resources, and expectations. Museums regularly work in partnership with a wide range of bodies, including schools, colleges, tourist boards, other cultural agencies, and local authorities.
Formal partnership assessment arrangements are the written agreements that are undertaken between a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and other organisations or RTOs. These arrangements enable the partners to share for mutual benefit their resources, effort, time, cost, responsibility and expertise. These arrangements are regulated by the AQTF Standards for Registered Training Organisations. See also Collaborative assessment arrangements and Auspicing. Informal partnership arrangements refer to assessors and candidates working together in the assessment process.
Partnerships vary greatly in how they are established and resourced and how they operate. There are no defining features for partnerships but they should bring together representatives from different sectors and different communities of interest to agree and work towards common goals. Organisations which bring together representatives of those who have an interest in the local area such as local authorities, health trusts, businesses, voluntary organisations, and residents groups.
Are structures that exist to deliver programmes. They bring together a number of formal organisations, for example statutory authorities, private companies and voluntary organisations. It has been unusual for community sector groups and organisations to be represented, although there are now attempts to include community interests.
The association of two or more buyers or sellers whereby they share expertise and resources to create products and services, commit to joint planning, and share customer, competitive, and company information for their mutual benefit and ultimately the customers'.