Partnerships, a great concept and of crucial importance in business, definitely in the IT industry. As the definition explains, a few elements need to be in place: 1) a contract or relationship, 2) a contribution, 3) a mutual goal, 4) the sharing of profits and of losses. This is applicable between consortia members, company-customer, employee-employer, manager-shareholder, …, you name it.

Time and time again I notice how difficult it is to create and sustain equitable partnerships, beneficial for both parties. In many instances, partners quickly forget the higher objective and revert to contractual clauses. Clauses need to be there, but avoiding fighting over them saves energy and time and serves - in many cases - the business purpose better.

Economically speaking, it is a nice subject in game theory. Psychologically speaking, creating a win-win requires the mental ability of sharing, cooperating, allowing others to have benefits as well. In other words, the ability to be happy and content with oneself independent from the wellbeing of others. Apparently, the human nature – self preservation, greed, jealousy, ... – works against this …

Best,
Chris

It is worth noting that establishing win-win relationship with suppliers and partners is one of the eight management principles underlying ISO 9001, and the management system of Trasys is certified for satisfying the requirements of this standard. Alliance approach gives more benefits than adversarial approach!

I agree that, apparently, the human nature works against this. That's why we should work on reinforcing a "win-win state of mind" within Trasys. By the way, this is in line with another ISO 9001 management principle: organising the company as a system of inter-related processes. Indeed, this means that each of us should understand how the process in which he's working impacts other processes. Each of us should understand how the part of job he is doing contributes in the success of the whole company.

If we are able to work internally in a win-win state of mind, then it should be easier to extend this state of mind to external collaboration. Remember that continual improvement is yet another ISO 9001 management principle!

Cheers,
Daniel