This paper builds upon the accomplishments of the Work Group on Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) Collaboration, established during the summer of 1988, which was charged with proposing strategies for strengthening the educational research, development, and dissemination system by increasing cooperation and collaboration among the major institutional projects funded by OERI. A review of the history of coordination and collaboration of research, development, and dissemination activities as a public policy concern is followed by a discussion of the rationale for institutional collaboration. General issues surrounding the concept of collaboration (including goals, organizational issues, procedures, and resources) are outlined, and policy questions associated with these issues are posed. An examination follows of how and under what circumstances OERI units and OERI-funded institutional projects might collaborate. The paper concludes with five general recommendations designed to stimulate further discussion on the specifics of future OERI collaboration endeavors. (16 references) (GL)