Title: Partnership Works
Author: David Williams
Publisher: David Williams GNP Ltd 2004
Type: Interactive CD-ROM
Reviewer: Nick Turner

This is an excellent use of the CD-ROM format, offering interactive resources arranged as coherent steps within a single model of successful partnership. The model allows facilitators and managers to focus on partnership intentions, progress and planning through group meetings.

The simple and consistent menu layout can certainly guide users through a systematic process to help partners and groups measure their expectations and views of current attainments. There is a substantial tool-box of techniques, definitions, guides and supporting materials to help groups build knowledge of current and expected partnership dynamics and to take the next positive steps.

The resources include the appropriate diagnostic exercises which help people to measure progress compared with hoped for outcomes. Invigorating quotes from the famous and the merely wise are provided to print out and there is sound advice on how best to use the disc’s resources to encourage group members into a positive frame of mind when they meet in partnership workshops.

The definitions provided are predominantly phrased from a partnership viewpoint, e.g;

opinion formers are those who help shape perceptions and attitudes about the work of the partnership; and

a steering group is a group of partners responsible for overseeing and guiding the work of the partnership.

Considering the title of the product, the strong focus on partnership is not unreasonable.

However, if one expands the partnership concept into almost any shared aim of two or more groups, whether in different organisations or the same, the group exercises could still be used to promote dialogue and discussion directed towards a more productive and better understood consensus.

The judicious use of the author’s own business experiences provides a sustained focus on the need to see the positives in adversity, which is often difficult for those engaged in day-to-day operations.

Preparation steps and tips for meeting resources are well explained; reading and using them would help any meeting organiser create well-prepared exercises and to help the groups attain improved understanding. The hand-outs, flip charts and posters look effective (note that you will need Adobe Acrobat reader to take advantage of the abundant additional source material provided.)

The contrasts between positive and negative attitudes are well designed and focussed and could easily be read and adapted for other management or consultancy purposes. In my view, even mixed language groups would find the large printable diagrams and posters helpful in establishing and clarifying targets and methods.

Overall, I found this a valuable and well co-ordinated resource to build understanding between groups and to help ensure that “Partnership Works.”

For further book reviews see: www.hrzone.co.uk/community/reviews