Improving Education Together Resources

A Guide to Labor-Management-Community Collaboration
By Geoff Marietta, Chad d’Entremont, and Emily Murphy Kaur

The following tools are from chapters three and four and were produced by the Massachusetts Education Partnership.

Chapter 3: Building Capacity to Team Effectively

  • Tool 2: Understanding the Challenge This tool was designed by the Massachusetts Education Partnership and is meant to provide both a macro and micro picture of one problem the team is hoping to address. To do this, teams are asked to map out the nature of the challenge or problem that they are tackling, identify an area of key focus, and zero in on their preferred approach for addressing the problem. This document is meant to help teams discuss the problem and solution more fully, aiding in the onboarding of new team members and old alike. This exercise also provides a nice segue to project planning.
    (Sample) (Discussion Questions)
  • Tool 3: Team Capacity Review This two-page survey was developed by the Massachusetts Education Partnership to provide teams and facilitators with data about their team in the areas of processes and operations; teaming and relationship building; capacity, sustainability, and adaptability; communication; and project management and implementation. This tool is intended to give both teams and facilitators the opportunity to reflect on many important components related to carrying out the work of their projects as well as teaming. It also gives teams and facilitators a better understanding of the team’s areas of strength and areas in need of improvement. This document should be thought of as a jumping-off point for the work ahead. (Discussion Questions)

 

Chapter 4: Interest-Based Process: Building Trust and Managing Conflict

  • Tool 1:  Principles and Interests Developed by the Massachusetts Education Partnership, this one-page document describes the difference between positions and interests and provides a concrete example that can help to create a common understanding for new ways of thinking about issues.  The one-pager can also be used to launch team-members into the concept exercises shown in Figure 4.1. 
  • Tool 2: Process Check-List This tool was designed by the Massachusetts Education Partnership to provide teams a high-level summary of IBP, as well as guide teams through the process of determining interests and expanding options.  Team are encouraged to use this a tool to ensure that IBP principles are being upheld and that IBP processes are being followed.
  • Tool 3:  Shifting the Frame: Example new and old behaviors Adapted by the Massachusetts Education Partnership for use in districts, this tool was originally designed by Kaiser Permanente’s Labor-Management Collaboration.  The tool graphically represents the behavior shifts that must occur across stakeholder groups to fully use IBP for negotiations. Conveniently, this tool can be used with stakeholders experienced with IBP, as well as newcomers to the process.