Within the supply chain, we all want win-win relationships. The key to this is collaboration but we need to be able to develop collaborative relationships and many businesses underestimate the process required to do this.
So how do we start?
Firstly, recognize running to a department or company shouting collaborate with me will not work. An evolution takes place starting with cooperation, moving to coordination and finally collaboration. In order to move through this cycle, you need a short, low-risk project that creates value for both parties and forces people to work together. This starts the cycle which subsequently builds trust. When you have high levels of cooperation, coordination and collaboration you get high levels of trust. This leads to a win-win relationship where both parties get far greater benefits than they could have achieved on their own.
Our work in this area at Cranfield is one of the areas explored within the Leading Supply Transformation Programme - one of our specialist programmes designed to develop appropriate skills for next generation professionals in these fields.
Blog produced by: Professor Richard Wilding OBE, Professor of Supply Chain Strategy.