AbstractThis paper is based upon a participatory research project carried out within a local level public organization, concerned with developing a strategy for collaboration with other organizations. Two concepts are introduced,‘collaborative advantage’and‘shared meta-strategy’. The issues surrounding these, which have arisen in the course of the project, are discussed and related to other literature in the area. It is argued that these two concepts, and the associated issues, may be helpful to others wishing to collaborate. However, they should be regarded as a basis for discussion and reinterpretation in the context of any particular collaboration.