Relational Coordination Collaborative

Better Relationships for Better Society - The International Network for Relational Development

International Network for Relational Development

Building on the May RC Cafe, the founding organizations for the International Network for Relational Development from the US, Portugal, Spain and UK will meet in Lisbon, Portugal from July 20-24 to develop shared goals for the network going forward.  

Background

Several founding partners met at the Roundtable 2024 in Berkeley, then a broader group met virtually in February, March, May and June 2025 to discuss the promotion, research, and application of relational coordination and relational evolution across different sectors globally.  The ambition of the Network is to provide a global platform where organizations, practitioners, and researchers can engage in the development and dissemination of relational models. These models will be applied to areas such as healthcare, education, community building, public sector and organizational development more broadly.

The starting point for the International Network for Relational Development is to create a more relationally-coordinated world, where human relationships are prioritized as essential to personal well-being, organizational effectiveness, and societal progress. 

Specifically, members of this network seek to:

  • Advance relational thinking and systemic approaches to address societal and organizational challenges, namely through the lens of the Theory of Relational Coordination (J. H. Gittell) and Theory of Relational Evolution (J. Quintana).
  • Facilitate international cooperation in research, training, and practice in the field of relational dynamics.
  • Provide resources and tools for enhancing relational capacity in various professional and social environments.

Founding Partners 

Relational Lab (https://site.relationallab.pt/)
  • Rui Marquez
  • Marta Marquez
  • Sofia Pereira
Instituto Relacional de Barcelona (https://www.institutorelacional.org/)
  • Esther Trujillo
  • Pau Quintana
  • Joan Quintana
  • Mora Del Fresno
  • Noelia Rodriguez
The Relationships Project (https://relationshipsproject.org/)
  • Neil Denton
  • David Robinson
Relational Coordination Collaborative (https://heller.brandeis.edu/relational-coordination/index)
  • Claus Jebsen
  • John Paul Stephens
  • Lauren Hajjar
  • Ignacio Pavez Barrio
  • Fernanda Artimos de Oliveira
  • Miranda Jane Safir
RELATE Lab (https://www.relatelab.org)
  • Leah Gordon
  • Brian Park
  • Alexander Mansour
  • Matthew Lewis
  • Niki Steckler
Relational Coordination Analytics (https://rcanalytic.com/)
  • Jody Hoffer Gittell
  • Heba Ali
  • Wale Olaleye 
  • Ann Tukari

Upcoming Events

Date/Time

Location

Event

May 22, 2025

Virtual

May RC Cafe: Building the International Network for Relational Development

July 22-24, 2025

Lisbon

Conference for the International Network for Relational Development, hosted by the Relational Lab

July 24-29, 2025

Copenhagen

Academy of Management Annual Meeting - Special events hosted by the RCC and the Organization Development and Change Division

November 6-8, 2025

Boston

RCC Roundtable: Discovering Integrative Solutions to Complex Problems - The Role of Relationships