The inclusion principle was a cornerstone for fostering partnerships. This principle allowed equal representation from the relevant stakeholder groups, resulting in partnerships that were more manageable in decision making and project management. As the tier system came into place, however, during the period of program change, principles of access and representation were called into question. Small community groups and representatives with local needs were distanced as priorities shifted to the call for large-scale projects from national organizations and consortia.
One key outcome has been the sharing of principles, knowledge and understanding about workplace literacy and essential skills training. Partners agreed that each member organization learned about the aims and philosophies of the other member organizations and now better appreciate their organizational ethos. Another outcome was the cumulative dialogue with partners around workplace change and literacy and how this moved into a wider training agenda. In addition, partners established criteria that focused on how the project work was progressing and what was proving difficult. This was empowering to the partnership members. Being able to take action in an autonomous way and to build on successes helped to further the development of the Business and Labour Partnership Program.
As mentioned in the previous section, five groups were impacted by the work of the program: business organizations and employers; labour organizations and their local constituents; educational practitioners and experts; and program participants and the community at large. One of the impacts of the program was that there was greater synergy among stakeholder organizations. There was also more choice for organizations in terms of how to take action when the issue of literacy at work surfaced. Innovative tools, procedures and learning materials were all products from different partnerships. As well, there was a sense of co-ordination in the field that effected the development of literacy as a profession in itself.