BUSINESS RESEARCH

Innovating Across Organisational Boundaries

Today, more than ever, organisational leaders must be able to orchestrate winning, innovative partnerships with external parties if they are to get ahead and stay ahead. Leaders must act as influential connectors who can win the minds and trust of those people they potentially have no direct control over – but who are nonetheless paramount to success.

Share
August 2015

Too often, however, organisations in dominant positions manage their external partners like vendors rather than strategic partners. This destructive approach causes organisations ‘to play suppliers and collaborators off against each other and to avoid partnerships that require some power sharing’. True partnerships can’t function as predefined contracts that depend on maximising control – especially those partnerships where innovation is at stake. This merely undermines real value creation and raises the risk of conflict.

True partnerships exhibit a number of special characteristics:

  1. New conditions will arise that can rule-out any initial deal or terms – but partners stick by each other to create new deals
  2. Processes are established for joint decision making
  3. Uncertainties are structured and managed to share risk and new investments
  4. Processes are put in place to cultivate partner communication and trust-building

Sources: Gomes-Casseres, B. (2011) A Partnership Is Not a Purchase Order, HBR, May 16; Hughes, J. (2008) From Vendor to Partner: Why and How Leading Companies Collaborate with Suppliers for Competitive Advantage, Global Business and Organizational Excellence, 27(3), 21-37.

Referenced techniques

Technique

Relationship Models

The concept describes the type of connections and associations between buyers and suppliers, and discusses some of the relationship models and their advantages and weaknesses.

Technique

Collaborative Relationships in Procurement

This concept reviews collaborative relationships and explored how they have evolved from transaction process-based agreements to collaborative processes based on trust and information-sharing.

Technique

Supply Chain Integration

The concept reviews integration and cooperation in supply chains and discusses the professional tools, business evidence and critical success factors of this process.

Leaders Edge Magazine Image
Subscribe for free to:

The Leading Edge

Join thousands of leaders benefiting from their bi-monthly copy of The Leading Edge on topics like Innovating Across Organisational Boundaries, to keep themselves at the cutting edge of leadership and management thinking.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
Testimonials

Trusted by over 200 organisations

2000+ people are already learning with KnowledgeBrief

Coventry and Warwickshire Mind

"As the line manager of a senior team member enrolled in the Senior Leader apprenticeship, I've witnessed firsthand how the functions, skills, study elements, and learning have enhanced the knowledge of the individual. While I have seen how the course benefits the individual, it also has benefited the organisation through an improvement in the breadth of leadership skills, policies, procedures, and strategic effectiveness. I believe our partnership with KnowledgeBrief will strengthen our organisation, and I will be encouraging other staff to participate in the apprenticeship."

ManpowerGroup

"KnowledgeBrief are best in class for their Leadership and Management training, highly professional and extremely knowledgeable coaches"

Wiltshire Council

"My Apprenticeship through Wiltshire Council with KnowledgeBrief has enabled me to have a wider understanding of management principles. The guidance given was invaluable to enable me to obtain my chartered management qualification with Distinction."

Wiltshire Council

"Throughout the course, I was guided and supported by skilled Personal Learning Advisors and attended informative workshops. By gaining my CMI qualification in leadership & management, I have been able to advance my career to the next level in management."

AVIS Budget Group

"They are incredibly easy to work with and focus entirely on what’s required for success in your organisation and for your employees."

CLIC Sargent

"I would recommend KnowledgeBrief to any organisation looking for impactful leadership and management training. "

AVIS Budget Group

"In every aspect of our relationship with KnowledgeBrief, from sales to accounts and the Professional Learning Advisors, we encounter passionate and engaged people."

Tata Chemicals Europe

"The benefits the programme brings to you in your role, and throughout the organisation are incredibly valuable. I would recommend the Level 5 to anyone in a management or leadership position."

Flogas

"It doesn’t matter what stage you are at in your Leadership or Management career, a Level 3 or 5 course will make you a better leader."

JPI Media

"I recommend anyone who is in a management or leadership role to take the course. It’s both challenging and rewarding and can only augment your existing knowledge and skills. You will grow as a leader if you take this course."

Equip your employees with the skills to increase results

If you would like to discuss how we can create your Leadership and Management Training Programmes, please get in touch