title: Collaboration: a SWOT analysis of the process of conducting a review of nursing workforce policies in five European countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper critically reviews the literature on international collaboration and analyses the collaborative process involved in producing a nursing workforce policy analysis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Collaboration is increasingly promoted as a means of solving shared problems and achieving common goals; however, collaboration creates its own opportunities and challenges. Evidence about the collaboration process, its outcomes and critical success factors is lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review and content analysis of data collected from six participants (from five European countries) members of the European Academy of Nursing Science Scholar Collaborative Workforce Workgroup, using a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis template.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two major factors affecting scholarly collaboration were identified: Facilitators, which incorporated personal attributes and enabling contexts/mechanisms, including individual commitment, responsibility and teamwork, facilitative supportive structures and processes. The second, Barriers, incorporated unmet needs for funding; time; communication and impeding contexts/mechanisms, including workload and insufficient support/mentorship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The literature review identified a low level of evidence on collaboration processes, outcomes, opportunities and challenges. The SWOT analysis identified critical success factors, planning strategies and resources of effective international collaboration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collaboration is an important concept for management. Evidence-based knowledge of the critical success factors facilitating and impeding collaboration could help managers make collaboration more effective.
authors: Horsens Hospital Research Unit and Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Horsens, Denmark.
authors: Lisbeth
authors: L
authors: Uhrenfeldt
authors: Riitta-Liisa
authors: RL
authors: Lakanmaa
authors: Mervi
authors: M
authors: Flinkman
authors: Marta Lima
authors: ML
authors: Basto
authors: Moira
authors: M
authors: Attree
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003718:Denmark; D004739:England; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007494:Ireland; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D011174:Portugal
keywords: SWOT analysis; collaboration; international; management; research