Step 7: Partnerships

Shared Success

This module on alliances for firms in the service sector has been designed to assist small and medium sized enterprises understand the framework for forming alliances and networks. The module illustrates implementation strategies that can be used as avenues of growth and diversification nationally and internationally.

The term partnering is used loosely to include strategic alliances, partnerships, joint ventures, teaming arrangements, business networks, and coalitions. Some of these arrangements will be "one-off" contract driven agreements, while others will be collaborations formed for the longer term. It should be understood that "one-off" relationships cannot afford the time required to carry out the detailed process outlined in this module, but they should include the overall decision making framework. Visitors with intentions to form longer relationships will benefit most from the information presented here.

For simplification, the term alliance will be used throughout this module to indicate the various forms of collaborative business arrangements.

The module has three parts. The first part, "How Alliances Work", provides process and background information into the workings of various partnering/alliance arrangements. The second part, "Test Your Alliance Readiness", is a two-part diagnostic that has been prepared to provide feedback on areas of potential weakness that should be explored before undertaking an alliance. The last section, "Reference Library", lists other sources of information and hot links to other websites of interest.