The TOOLS contain:

	Purpose and Leadership
	Outcomes and Customer focus
	Culture and Communications
	Learning and Innovation
	Management for Partnership Performance

We draw out key messages for both business and public sector partners.

Partnership Life Cycle
This a key tool for understanding partnership development and deciding on action needed to improve partnership performance.

Not unlike teams within organisations, partnerships typically go through stages. We highlight these in the Partnership Life Cycle as Forming, Frustrating, Functioning and Flying.

	promoting debate about the obstacles to improving performance, without partners resorting to blaming one another
	diagnosing underlying causes of partnership strengths and weaknesses
	promoting actions and attitudes that will improve performance

High Performing Partnerships
This is a self-assessment tool for reviewing the performance of strategic partnerships. It was developed out of earlier research for DfEE and Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber on critical success factors in economic development partnerships which drew on widespread experience and research, both in the UK and internationally.

Involving the Private Sector
This section provides best practice advice on how to attract and sustain the involvement of the private sector in economic development partnerships. The content is relevant to a wide range of partnerships (private or public sector-led) where engaging and sustaining interest and commitment of businesses is vital.

It incorporates material previously published by the DfEE, "The Private Sector in Local Economic Development Partnerships: Coventry & Warwickshire TEC", published in the International Ideas and Innovation: Promoting Best Practice in Local Economic Development series. This has proved its value on many occasions and has been reviewed and augmented as part of this project.

	Shaping Partnership Direction
	a tool to help clarify and guide how you want your network or partnership develop
	Taking Stock
	questions to stimulate reflection on partnership health, strengths, weaknesses and ways forward
	Private Sector Advisory Network
	a tool to help clarify roles and expectations where business people act in an advisory capacity
	Sector Co-ordinator Job Specification
	an outline of the roles and functions typically required of someone employed with the task of building sector or cluster groups and partnerships
	Planning Group Activities
	a framework for encouraging group members of sector groups etc., consider what they want to achieve from their group, and the types of activity they need to pursue

How can the tools be used?
The tools are designed to help clarify performance issues and help partners agree priorities, future direction and joint action.

You will likely find that they have value in considering relationships more generally with partners, not just the private sector.

Use them as they are, or adapt them to your circumstances. Think laterally: For example, much of the content of sector co-ordinator specification will be helpful in thinking through the roles of partnership managers or development staff in other types of partnership.

	stress the value of a systematic, joint approach to resolving problems and challenges
	allow enough time for people to get to know each other better, to share perceptions, views and wishes, and to agree ways forward
	foster conditions for open dialogue and team building
	get frustrations out into the open and tackle their causes
	take stock and make progress quickly

The copyright arrangements for this guide permit reproduction and adaptation of these materials, provided that you acknowledge the source.