Clarifying the partnership
It is important to define the roles of the partners in the partnership. You will have expectations of your partner(s), and your partner(s) will have expectations of the Soros foundations. Failure to clarify these expectations at the outset increases the likelihood of misunderstanding, conflict, and delay later on.
Successful collaboration requires clarity and consensus between the partners on:
It is useful to document and formalize the partnership; a handshake or a verbal understanding is rarely enough for successful collaboration. Written agreement is especially important in large, high-cost initiatives or in those that involve numerous or new partners. The documentation can be "tight" or "loose." It might be a letter of agreement, a memorandum of understanding, or a more detailed partnership contract that is signed by all parties.
Documentation of the partnership can distinguish between basic agreements (such as the shared aim, the structure of the partnership, respective roles and contributions) and provisional details that are likely to be revised during implementation (such as cost estimates or time tables). Too heavy an emphasis on documentation and detail can unnecessarily complicate, bind, or delay the partnership. Some organizations may find it difficult to commit themselves to strict, detailed agreements. When necessary, documentation can create flexibility by building in a pilot or trial period, by providing for review and adjustment or by phasing the resource commitments of the partners.
