The Coalition-Building Process
Phase 1
Emergence — Issues and concerns have heated up, risen to the sur-
face, and factions with a stake in the issues (stakeholders) have been
called to an initial meeting by a convener. There is enough readiness
to work together to warrant further activity.
Stages:
1. The Issues Domain or Community Situation — The context in
which the issues “live,” hence, the place where coalition solu-
tions are tested and recycled. A place to begin, end, or renew.
2. The Emergence of Issues — Issues and stakeholders are recog-
nized in the public arena.
3. Readiness to Collaborate — Readiness of certain factional rep-
resentatives to work together around an issue(s) is determined
by gathering data prior to forming the coalition or through ob-
servation during initial contacts and meetings.
4. Emergence of Conveners and Stakeholders (members) — One
or more people who believe that certain stakeholders could
form a coalition take the initiative and call the first meetings.
Representatives of factions agree to continue meeting and
members are accepted.
Phase 2
Stabilization — Coalition members understand each other’s values,
interests, goals and preferences. Norms, procedures and rules for
operating are established and form the basis for future work.
Stages:
5. Recognizing Values, Interests and Directions — Open discus-
sion of members’ values and interests and their preferences re-
garding the issues at stake. Establishing overarching goals that
help focus collaborative efforts.
6. Getting Operational Agreements — Development of group agree-
ments on norms, procedures and rules for how the coalition
works.
Phase 3
Activation — Wherein work on the issue, i.e., learning, problem-
solving, action-planning, implementation, evaluation and sometimes
renewal and redirection, is accomplished.
Stages:
7. Gathering Information — Data on issues is collected and present-
ed by and to the group as a part of the learning and problem-
solving process.
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