Thanks for an interesting read Ted, also really enjoying the comments and replies. This seems to be solely about two or more decentralised orgs collaborating. Have you written anywhere about conditions/protocols/shared commitments that support inter-organisational collaboration and partnerships across an ecosystem, platform or network, where several of the organisations involved are of the traditional centralised/hierarchical type, but endeavouring to work effectively in a horizontal, decentralised way with other entities, some of which are themselves decentralised orgs/networks?

This is what I'm trying to do/build and it's hard 😅, so any signposting to relevant guidance or examples would be much appreciated!

Also do you think there's an upper limit to how many partners can collaborate through the models you've set out here? Seems to make most sense for partnerships between just two orgs, but would anything need to change if you're considering multiple entities (given that the complexity increases exponentially for each additional partner)?

I'm interested in your separation of collaboration/decision-making spaces/structures from those for information-sharing. I've attempted to combine the two, e.g. in a single circle and/or circle meeting, and it hasn't been hugely successful - I think mostly due to the cognitive load it creates (especially when the people involved meet only once a month so there's a whole lot of trust and relationship-building also needing to happen in limited time).

Also intrigued by the housing of both partnership types inside one partner org, rather than creating independent spaces that are co-governed by working groups or sought to be collectively upheld by both/all members - I've tried these and run into challenges so I can see the advantages of the clarity of it sitting within one or other partner org. How do you then mitigate for that hosting org's power (perceived and real), if all partners are seeking to engage as equals?

Thank you 🙂