Collaboration within the JIMP (Joint, Interagency, Multinational, Public) Environment

摘要

Canadian Forces (CF) personnel confront a number of challenges and complexities in today's multidimensional security environment. This environment requires the CF to work closely and collaboratively with people from a variety of organizations within a Joint, Interagency, Multinational, Public (JIMP) framework, including Other Governmental Departments (OGDs) and Agencies (OGAs) as well as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Thus, this study aimed at identifying key themes associated with collaboration among diverse players in a JIMP framework. Using an unstructured approach, discussions were conducted with subject matter experts (SMEs) representing diverse organizations. These experts provided first-hand accounts of collaboration efforts in theatre. Results from SME discussions showed that a number of conditions for effective collaboration were not consistently being met in operations. Respondents noted that issues such as shared power and clearly defined roles and responsibilities, shared goals, mutual respect, and mutual trust all impacted on their collaborative efforts with other personnel within the JIMP environment. SMEs also identified communicating, developing rapport, negotiating, planning, and making decisions as particular challenges when collaborating with diverse actors in a JIMP environment. Important insights relevant to the outcomes of collaboration (e.g., the importance of personal relationships in collaborative efforts) were also gained. Although many respondents focused on challenges that they had encountered when collaborating, there were also positive reports of creative efforts used by respondents to promote or enhance collaboration. These included working to promote personal relationships and shared identity with other players.