Cross-Boundary Collaboration
Cross-Boundary Collaboration focuses on working with individuals and organizations outside one’s immediate work area or span of control. The intention of Cross-Boundary Collaboration is to create greater benefit and success through collaboration and sharing of ideas and resources not only for the groups working together but for ASU as a whole.
Increasing Capability Levels
Level 1
- Is open to partnering.
- Recognizes that diverse perspectives bring added value to the creation of new products, services, and solutions.
- Values the work of collaboration.
Level 2
- Initiates collaboration with others; invites others to meetings and presentations for the sharing of information.
- Asks for critique and insights from others on new ideas, product or process innovations, etc.
- Seeks support for collaborative activities from upper management; informs them of how they can be more successful with a collaborative approach in certain areas.
Level 3
- Facilitates win-win situations; works with others to achieve success.
- Establishes working relationships with others to leverage ideas and resources for mutual benefit.
- Determines how to allocate work across groups for maximum benefit and optimal results.
Level 4
- Creates the conditions for successful collaboration.
- Builds process that allow for the sharing of information, for parties to understand each other(their skills, their unique advantage to the organization), for groups to come together and be better than they were apart.
- Ensures all groups are delivering desired results.
Overusing Cross-Boundary Collaboration
May slow down reasonable process by having everything open for debate; May touch base with too many peers and be overly concerned with making everyone happy; May take too long to get things decided
Underusing Cross-Boundary Collaboration
May not be seen as a team player, doesn’t have the greater good in mind; May not seek or know how to find common ground; Doesn’t relate smoothly to a variety of people.