Inter-organizational collaboration, problem solving, and capacity building: Insights from a case study analysis

Communities need effective strategies to meet the diverse needs of citizens and solve problems. Inter-organizational networks provide a cross-sectoral approach to identify issues, collectively establish goals and coordinate resources to develop sustainable solutions. This research is a case study analysis of the Community Planning Committee, an inter-organizational network, in 100 Mile House, British Columbia, Canada. Through action research methodology, members of the Community Planning Committee explored factors which support and hinder the inter-organizational collaboration, problem solving and capacity building of this network. Members of the Community Planning Committee felt the collaborative problem solving process supported the development of trust and respect and recognized that the results produced collectively were greater than could be achieved independently which supported an ongoing commitment to the network. The theory of change was used as a framework to delineate implications for the researcher's practice in rural communities in School District No. 27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin), British Columbia.