Partnering and COVID -19
Image by tedward-quin on unsplash
Since the COVID 19 pandemic struck we have seen a dramatic increase in collaboration and partnering taking place within Australia and globally.
We have seen businesses repurposing their manufacturing plants to produce Personal Protective Equipment, researchers collaborating to develop potential new vaccines and all levels of government working together in the interests of the Australian people.
One of the most striking examples of collaboration at a government level has been the establishment of a National Cabinet, where the a Prime Minister and all State Premiers /Chief Ministers, have come together to tackle the COVID 19 crisis and put political ideology to one side. We have also seen the Federal Government and Unions working together to streamline awards and amend the Fair Work Act, when prior to this crisis the key people involved had not even spoken to each other!
This increased level of collaboration around a clear common purpose - a very clear threat to our health and economy - has been so effective that Australia’s handing of the crisis is bearing excellent results and may well enable us to return to some form of ‘COVID safe economy’ in coming months.
While we are seeing many examples of ‘rapid partnering’ taking place between organisations from the same or different sectors, this increase in collaboration and partnering raises many questions about what is happening now and for what happens post COVID 19, such as:
Why are organisations partnering so quickly with partners they would not have considered prior to this crisis?
What is it taking for this rapid partnering to occur and will it be sustained beyond the current crisis?
How can we learn from what is happening now to tackle other issues, such as climate change, on the other side of the crisis?
What will it take to ensure crisis collaborations deliver value in the short and long term?
As partnering has been key to tackling this crisis how can it also be the key enabler for a post pandemic recovery?
To answer these and many other questions we are teaming with The Partnering Initiative (TPI) in the UK who have mobilised their network of global associates in a quest to support organisations, undertake research into key areas and to provide advocacy and thought leadership in partnering during and post Covid 19. Further details can be found here:
Over the coming months TPI will be reviewing its tools and resources to support organisations doing rapid partnering, undertaking research into key questions and sharing the learnings through articles, blogs and research papers.
As a starting point two articles have recently been published by TPI and these are:
Fighting side by side against COVID-19 - a think piece by TPI Executive Director Darian Stibbe
AND
Partnering at speed against COVID-19 -by Sarita Sehgal and Dave Prescott
Partnering can provide the mechanism that will enable us to create a more cooperative, integrated and harmonious society. One that will be able to solve our ‘too hard basket’ issues such as climate change through new approaches.
As an Associate of TPI, I look forward to keeping you updated on the research, learning's and new tools that TPI develops over coming months.
If you would like to know more about this initiative please get in touch.