One of the most interesting conversations we continually face is the question of competition vs. collaboration.  We hear drumbeats for organizations to cooperate, collaborate.  And then we hear drumbeats, just as loud, that suggest “competition is a source of innovation.”

A conversation at Social Edge has been going on for over a month on this issue, with participants from all walks of life.

As consultants to Community Benefit / nonprofit organizations, our assumptions about cooperation vs. competition will influence the advice we give our clients, and will ultimately influence the actions they take in their organizations and their communities.

So we thought it was an issue worth discussing in this upcoming chat.

  • In your consulting, do you encourage your clients to be competitive or cooperative?
  • If you lean more to one than the other, what are you aiming your clients at achieving through that focus?
  • What approaches do you use with clients to build either that competitive or cooperative focus?
  • Can organizations simultaneously compete and cooperate? If so, how? If not, then which is more important?
  • Have your clients benefitted / suffered from competition? Have they benefitted / suffered from collaboration?
  • Which will benefit our communities the most in the long run – organizations that are competitive or cooperative?

Join us on Tuesday, August 18th at 1pm US Pacific time for what is bound to be a lively discussion. See you there!