Types of cross-organizational collaboration and cooperation are exciting terrain. Different organisational cultures and interests come together. These should be kept out of the way for the benefit of a specific purpose. This rarely happens without conflict.

"Fit Sport Austria", as a limited liability company of the three popular Austrian sports associations ASKÖ, ASVÖ and SPORTUNION, is the operative unit for the implementation of joint projects in the field of health and popular sports. At the centre of all activities is the guiding principle "moving more together", with the aim of promoting exercise for all people in Austria. The joint measures of the three associations in the field of health-oriented sport are bundled and promoted in "Fit Sport Austria" GmbH.

In the course of the evaluation specified by the Federal Sports Promotion Fund (BSFF), the areas of responsibility of "Fit Sport Austria" GmbH, including events and related work processes, were examined. Within the scope of the evaluation, an impact model was developed for "Fit Sport Austria" GmbH. The impact model was used to analyze the extent to which the structure, processes and resulting results (intended outputs) are suitable for achieving the intended effects and goals for the included stakeholders. It was thus a combination of process, structure and result evaluation based on an impact model. The project was designed for a duration of 12 months. The project started in February 2016.

As a result, it can be stated that the restructuring of ""Fit for Austria"" to "Fit Sport Austria" GmbH has brought new challenges and opportunities in addition to solutions for old structural problems.

On the one hand, structures and workflows have been continuously developed and concretized, resulting in improved cooperation between Fit Sport Austria GmbH and the three umbrella organizations.  On the other hand, the increased dependency of "Fit Sport Austria" GmbH on the umbrella organizations also represents a challenge for the work within "Fit Sport Austria" GmbH. There is an area of tension that is difficult to resolve between the need to consult with the umbrella associations and to take the appropriate initiative.

It is not unusual that especially in large hierarchical and multi-layered organizations, structures and processes often turn out to be inefficient, time-consuming and complicated. Management and its strategic orientation are no longer limited to one or a few people; rather, collective processes are the starting point for implementing joint activities and developing new ideas.

•     But how does cooperation work under these complex conditions?

•     How is complexity perceived in organizations? What impact does it have on work and leadership?

•     How important is communication?

Together with the Managing Director of "Fit Sport Austria" GmbH, the questions of successful cooperation between organizations were reflected on during the 15th NPO Day on June 12, 2017.

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