 |
About the Project
Aims of the Project
Partnership working is an increasingly important aspect of public service delivery.
Much of the decision making that takes place with
and between partners needs to be connected to the traditional democratic
processes. MCC makes every
effort to do this but the council also wants to ensure that such decision making is subject to
proper governance arrangements that are reflective of shared values. The key
aim of this project is to develop, with MCC and their partners, a shared set of values
and behaviours that will underpin partnership working.
Good behaviour within partnership settings is essential if collaborative efforts are to succeed.
Such behaviour is often intangible but impactive.
We are aware that there is a strong link between the quality of
governance and the quality of service provision.
Conversely, poor governance can lead to a range of critical barriers
including poor quality leadership, poor decision making, lack of clarity in
relation to roles, responsibilities and activities and poor networking
relationships. At its best good
behaviour will reside at the heart of governance arrangements and will
represent the guiding principle that all partners will strive towards.
This project will identify and refine the key values and behaviours that MCC and its partners consider are appropriate in guiding governance arrangements. More specifically the project is about encouraging high standards in partnership working by creating a level playing field based on a commitment to a set of agreed values
The Focus of the Project
Within the context of this study, governance comprises the systems and
processes, and cultures and values by which local government bodies are
directed and controlled and through which they account to, engage with and,
where appropriate, lead their communities.
The development of the set of values and behaviours will involve the
network of partnerships that the City Council engage with. Consultation and
engagement of partners at all levels will be the key to the success of this
project.
Method
Manchester Business School (MBS) through the Centre for Local Governance
has been commissioned to undertake this work.
Two small action learning sets will be formed representing key
strategic partnerships including the strategic board and a further set comprising
members of more delivery focused and contractual collaborative partnerships.
Members of the Public Service Board have been engaged from the
outset of this project and their continuing involvement will be critical to
its overall success.
The first phase of the research will involve the first two action
learning sets followed by the circulation, completion and analysis of an
online questionnaire to a wide range of partners in support of the issues
identified through the action learning.
Action learning develops a loop between learning, experience, action and
review and brings together both individual and organisation learning.
The sets will give participants the opportunity to describe both
current and desired values and behaviours.
MBS will facilitate the discussion but also provide an analysis of
the emerging descriptions and refinement of core values and behaviours.
The action learning sets will be supported by two wider workshops
involving a wider representative sample of partnership members.