2012 Olympics
Partnership and Working
Prepare to partner and work in clusters
Partnering with another business with complementary capabilities may make the difference between a bid that fails, and one that meets all the requirements. Partnering can be a good business strategy.
Learning how to choose partners, manage projects that include personnel from other businesses and achieve better results through joint efforts are skills that can lay the groundwork for future growth. A partnership must ensure that the whole really is greater than the sum of the two parts.
But partnering does involve some risk. First and foremost, businesses must be sure they are choosing the right partner. Joint ventures and strategic alliances can be a hit and miss at the best of times, but when a once-in-a lifetime opportunity comes along businesses need to be absolutely sure they have the right team. Here is a suggested 5-point checklist for choosing the right partner:
1. Is your prospective business partner willing to engage when required?
2. Do they have the necessary resources, technical competence and expertise?
3. Is there a team culture that can translate outside the business?
4. Are you confident that your prospective partner’s future plans will not interfere with their ability to deliver?
5. Is there a cultural fit between both businesses?
· Driven to win?
· Good chemistry?
· Both see it as win-win?
· Similar goals, rewards and methods of operating?
· Clear objectives and measurable results?
· Trust?
· Committed leadership?
If the business can say yes to all of these points, then it’s on the way to becoming a successful partner.
