Interorganizational cooperation: Part I of III: the interagency perspective

• Published in: Joint Force Quarterly : JFQ no. 79; p. 106
• Main Authors: McArthur, James C, Betts, William D, Bregon, Nelson R, Chamberlain, Faith M, Katsos, George E, Kelly, Mark C, Levy, E. Craig, Lim, Matthew L, Mickus, Kimberly K, Stockton, Paul N
• Format: Journal Article Trade Publication Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington National Defense University 01.10.2015
• Subjects: Armed Forces; Military leaders
• ISSN: 1070-0692; 1559-6702

In 2012, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff directed the Armed Forces to expand the envelope of interagency cooperation. His edict inspired a profusion of Department of Defense (DOD) literature cataloging the challenges of working with non-DOD organizations. This article is part one of a three-part series that features the other side of the story: interorganizational cooperation from interagency perspectives. Over the course of this series, authors from US Government, intergovernmental, nongovernmental, and treaty-based organizations argue that broader inclusion of non-DOD perspectives into joint doctrine encourages the identification and propagation of much-needed interorganizational best practices. This article raises awareness on US Government organizational purpose, process, and people differences. By presenting non-DOD perspectives, they aim to facilitate DOD interagency cooperation through improved awareness of negotiation pitfalls. By definition, unity of effort requires unity of purpose. Partners may have different purposes for the task at hand, but comparing objectives across time, space, and organizational level can unearth commonalities.