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Pitfalls and Opportunities of Bilateral Collaboration

This presentation explores the Belgian-Dutch bilateral project, highlighting successful partnerships, lessons learned, and the benefits. It also discusses the importance of trust and communication in bilateral collaborations.

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Pitfalls and Opportunities of Bilateral Collaboration

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  1. BILC Conference 2014 Belgium 5 – 9 May 2014, Bruges

  2. Pitfalls and Opportunities of Bilateral Collaboration SHARING THE BURDEN Jean-Paul van den Heede Royal Military Academy, Belgium Gerard Seinhorst Language Office, Netherlands Armed Forces

  3. PRESENTATION OUTLINE • The Belgian-Dutch project • Successful bilateral partnerships • Lessons learned • Conclusion BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  4. THE BILATERAL PROJECT • Belgium obvious partner: • Similar testing needs • Historical links • BENELUX • Geographic and cultural proximity BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  5. THE BILATERAL PROJECT BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  6. THE BILATERAL PROJECT BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  7. THE BILATERAL PROJECT BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  8. THE BILATERAL PROJECT • Belgium obvious partner: • Similar testing needs • Historical links • BENELUX • Geographic and cultural proximity • Similar size (nation, Armed Forces, resources) • Official NLD defence policy • Full partnership, development from scratch BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  9. THE BILATERAL PROJECT Expected benefits: • Savings in time and money • Utilise strengths of each partner • Increased validity • better pretesting possibilities • comparable scores / ratings • Increased recognition and acceptance • stakeholders • candidates BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  10. THE BILATERAL PROJECT STΞPS - Standardised Test of English Proficiency IAWSTANAG 6001 • Bi-level English STANAG test (Levels 2 and 3) • 4 skill modalities, computer-delivered • Project completion Sept ’14 • Test development team • Part-time involvement • From 4 x BEL, 3 x NLD to 2 x BEL, 2 x NLD BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  11. THE BILATERAL PROJECT BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  12. SUCCESSFUL BILATERAL PARTNERSHIPS • Reality check • Investigate and recognize the need for partnership • Choose a suitable partner • Trust: unconditional and mutual • Similar (testing) needs • Compatible working styles • Complementary skills and expertise • Agree on a shared goal / project outcome • Ensure commitment of senior management BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  13. SUCCESSFUL BILATERAL PARTNERSHIPS • Ensure effective communication • Meeting schedule and location(s) • Interaction: face-to-face and e-mail • Storage/accessibility of materials • Senior users as sounding board • Find the right balance • Resources (investments) • Responsibilities and work load • Accountability > dual ownership BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  14. SUCCESSFUL BILATERAL PARTNERSHIPS A bilateral partnership is likely to be effectiveif: • same interests and values are shared • equal risk, responsibility, accountability and profits are shared • inequalities in resources and expertise do not affect their relative influence in decision making • partners are chosen carefully BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  15. SUCCESSFUL BILATERAL PARTNERSHIPS A bilateral partnership is likely to be ineffective if: • one partner has all the power or drives the process • hidden motivation present, not declared to all partners • established “to keep up appearances’’ or to meet political goals BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  16. LESSONS LEARNED • Establish a Partnership Agreement • Formally approved by senior management: shared ownership and commitment • Continuity • Project goal and outcome • Time Lines • Resources • Responsibilities • Leadership • Communications • Product ownership • Sustainment after project termination • Exit strategy BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  17. LESSONS LEARNED • Carefully consider team composition and qualifications of team members and support • Strive for diversity • gender, mother tongue • all stakeholders represented • Ideal team size • Start with a fully trained team • LTS alone is not enough • Ensure technical (ICT) support BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  18. LESSONS LEARNED • Avoid part-time involvement of team members • loss of continuity, motivation and commitment • risk for project being marginalized • dedicated resources needed! • go for short and sharp • Avoid being overly optimistic about savings in time BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  19. LESSONS LEARNED • Make use of testing expertise among BILC colleagues • item/prompt review • consultations • rating / norming activities • help from CAN, DNK, EST, FYR, ITA, LVA, ROU, USA THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE! BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  20. CONCLUSION • Many forms of collaboration • from exchanging views between individuals to a full partnership • Full partnership not in all cases the best solution • More partner interdependence means more risks and less control BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  21. AREAS OF COOPERATION More partner interdependence Exchange of testers/raters Item banking Dedicated software applications Item development Test specifications Standard setting (Re-)norming activities Item review (moderation) Data collection & analysis Pretesting Trialling/Piloting Less partner interdependence BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  22. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! 22 BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

  23. 23 BILC Conference, 5-9 May 2014, Bruges

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