JUNE2002

How can I get a copy of a Memorandum of Understanding for our grant community? We don't want to reinvent the wheel if we can help it.

There is a fine line between not wanting to "reinvent the wheel" and "avoiding the work." We can send you and/or refer you to people for copies of the document you reference. However, a word of caution is in order. There is a difference between viewing an existing Memorandum of Understanding as a contract-like document and the development of a Memorandum of Understanding as a process crucial to building collaborative working relationships.

It is easy to simply repurpose someone else's document. Although documents are important and provide guidelines and structure for our work, they should reflect the shared vision of your stakeholders. Arriving at a shared vision in our systems reform work is not easy. Each system, and each person within that system, has a core set of values and principles that are not universal in nature. Moving too swiftly to a prototype often results in difficulty at the implementation stage. When stakeholders are not offered an opportunity to provide input, not only are critical pieces missed, but creative and innovative ideas may not surface. In addition, the document should meet the diverse local needs of the stakeholders; it is their right to participate in a process that results in a comprehensive effective outcome.

We recommend you use any existing document only as a starting point upon which to build your own community's unique shared vision. Creating a document is an evolutionary process. You must regularly review your document as new stakeholders come on board or policy and procedures change. In addition, do not forget that results of your document must be in full agreement with other elements of your program. The document is only as good as the action taken to ensure the outcome.