Achieve more together, apart
What is Clustering and Collaborative Working?
A cluster is a localised group of linked and actively interacting organisations (typically businesses, researchers, government and specialist services) focused on a shared activity. This shared activity provides them with competitive, productivity and innovation advantages over those outside the cluster or region. Well-established examples include Hollywood for films and Silicon Valley for IT.
Collaborative Working is when your organisation joins with others to improve capability, performance and growth. Examples include Chambers of Commerce, Farmers Markets and Cross Functional Teams.
Where can we help
At the Centre for Competitiveness we offer advice and assistance in the following areas:
Collaborative Networking
We support the setting up of collaborative networks. We use our networks to introduce people to the idea of working together on collaborative ventures.
Collaborative Toolkit
The collaborative toolkit consists of a Cluster Positioning System (CPS) that allows you to define your current level of cluster sophistication, where you need to be and the steps you need to take to get there. The definitions are in relation to the current leadership, strategy, processes, resources, people and business impacts.
Cluster Facilitation
We offer advice and mentoring services, to clusters and facilitators, on cluster development and co-operative working. Facilitation helps organisations come together and deliver against a shared vision.
Cluster Training
We offer training for Facilitators and for Groups. This will help accelerate the building of trust, condense the time taken to deliver value and identify and avoid the normal pitfalls. Training will help you get faster, cheaper, and better group working and results delivery.
Online Cluster Networking
The Northern Ireland Smart Community is a web-based tool to assist people in their collaborative efforts in an online, secure environment. It provides invitation-only communities with tools to help group communication, secure sharing of information, and active participation.
What our Members say
“The Company of Irish Bakers is a group of of independent home bakeries in the northern counties of Ireland. We collectively share over 500 years of skills and experience and communicate daily via the Online Smart Community.
The benefits of collaboration are abundant and include:
- Shared cost of product/brand development
- Shared knowledge and expertise
- Collectively supply new and old customers
- Higher profile of the local bakery in the community.”
Shaun Hunter, Hunters Bakery, Limavady
What to do now
We provide professional advice, mentoring, facilitation and training services on cluster development, collaborative working and team working. Members of the NI Smart Community Network can share secure and supported information via the Internet, anywhere and at any time.
Contact Derek Johnston or Michael Smith for more information on Clusters, Collaboration and Team working today on 028 9073 7950 or email compete@cforc.org.