Collaborative Problem-Solving

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a long tradition of using collaborative processes to address environmental challenges. Today we are building on our history to create an Agency that:

Routinely and explicitly considers collaborative approaches;
Equips its personnel and partners with the skills, tools and resources necessary to implement collaborative problem-solving projects effectively;
Aligns its accountability systems with its expections for collaboration;
Is seen as a leader in collaborative problem-solving by outside parties; and
Achieves superior environmental outcomes through its collaborative problem-solving efforts

Following are some of the resources we are using and signs that we are succeeding.

Solving Environmental Problems through Collaboration (PDF) (9 pp, 66K, About PDF) -- the 2005 result of a study team’s examining the scientific and Agency literature on collaboration, as well as nearly 200 EPA case studies. That study identified seven “keys” to successful collaborative problem-solving.

EPA Tools & Services for Collaborative Problem-Solving (documents, fact sheets, databases, websites and contracting mechanisms)

Collaboration and Partnership (111 descriptions of 2007 activities)

EPA is now implementing activities in four thematic areas: (1) build expert knowledge, skills, and capacity; (2) develop collaborative leadership at all levels through recruitment and career development; (3) align planning, budgeting, and accountability systems to foster collaboration; and (4) target priority environmental problems. EPA anticipates that work in these four strategic areas will enable the Agency to take collaborative problem-solving to new heights, enabling it to more effectively deliver cleaner air, water, and land to the American people.

Collaborative Problem-Solving

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