Conducting Collaborative Projects Playing well in the sandbox

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Conducting Collaborative ProjectsPlaying well in
the sandbox

• OSP Awareness
• Dec 12, 2008
• osp.syr.edu
• ospoff_at_syr.edu

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Why collaborate with others?

• Cause its fun and intellectually stimulating
• Need different perspective
• Need additional expertise
• Need additional person-power for nature of
  project or problem

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Personal relationships

• New relationship
• Speak same language?
• Same standards of performance?
• Same expectations?
• Existing relationship
• Well-oiled machine?
• Care feeding to sustain
• ? Trust
• ? Respect

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New relationships

• A dating game
• Sometimes it works out
• Sometimes it doesnt
• Takes time
• What are your goals for the relationship?
• Clarity in your own mind
• What do YOU expect?
• What do THEY expect?

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Managing expectations

• DISCUSS ?
• Who will do the heavy lifting?
• Proposal writing?
• Doing the research?
• Teaching?
• Supervising students?
• Clarify ? is everyones needs the same?
• Whats at stake?
• Consequences of failure?
• How is credit allocated AND perceived?

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Up front considerations / conversations

• Do you speak the same language?
• Interdisciplinary projects..
• Same standards for success?
• Other commitments? - time available?
• Authorship expectations?
• order
• journals
• Data ownership?
• Supervision of students?

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Common complaints

• I had to do all the work
• They didnt pull their weight
• Didnt do any/enough work
• Over promised, under delivered
• Said they had X and didnt
• Always late
• Cut off ties/stopped communicating

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Were expectations clear?

• Proposal writing
• There must be a project champion but what is plan
  to handle free-loaders?
• Be clear about expectations up front
• Be professional
• If essential player doesnt pull weight then
  what?
• Make it easy for people to fulfill obligations
• Writing plan assignments deadlines
• Get support for administrivia
• Bibliography management?

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Were expectations clear?

• Doing the project
• Documentation
• Proposal research plan
• Timeline, milestones, deliverables
• Budget justification (responsibilities)
• Review plan at start confirm roles,
  responsibilities, expectations and deadlines
• Monitor regularly (schedule)
• What happens when speed bumps encountered?
• Will you see them before they happen?
• What if get derailed?

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Management plan AND communication

• Tough to confront folks
• Plan clear expectations ? managing plan and
  facilitating people
• Golden rule
• Treat others as you want to be treated.
• ?? Your standards same as other folks? OR
• The one with the gold makes the rules?
• Know that speed bumps are okay BUT need to
  disclose to manage
• COMMUNICATION is key!

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Collaborations ..

• Takes work
• Takes open communication
• Rewards are tremendous!