Action researching the theory of collaborative advantage

The theory of collaborative advantage has been developed through a programme of research-oriented action research spanning over 18 years. It is structured in overlapping themes which relate to issues that are (in the main) of particular concern to practitioners who participate in inter-organizational collaborations such as partnerships, alliances and networks. The themes are each constructed around a central tension between collaborative advantage - the (potential) synergy to be gained from collaborating - and collaborative inertia - the tendency for the potential advantage not to be realized in practice. The theory consists of conceptualizations capturing the issues, tensions, dilemmas and difficulties that face collaboration participants. It is designed to be used in a 'handles for reflective practice' mode. This seminar will provide an overview of the theory itself, its themes-based structure, the research-oriented action research methods and the reflective practice modus operandi.