What are the most effective ways to manage partnerships for long-term productivity?

Tout dépend de quel côté vous êtes : en recherche de partenaires ou sollicité pour être partenaire. En recherche, il est évident qu'une connaissance approfondie de vos cibles est indispensable. Comprendre ses objectifs, ses freins, son moteur. J'ai souvent été du côté de celui que l'on vient chercher. Une approche personnalisée est toujours gagnante même si elle n'aboutit pas la première fois. Elle laissera de toute façon la porte ouverte pour revenir. C'est plus de boulot au départ mais moins de perte à l'arrivée.

Most new partnership ventures fail due to NOT understanding how each member will contribute to the venture. Of the 34 partnerships I created, three of them failed because one of the members did not follow through with their promises. In each case, they were boasting about their connections, but did not specify what they would do to expand operations. In all three cases, we disolved the corporation because the errant partners were not willing to change. Therefore, make sure all partners specify exactly what they will do, when and where such acts will be conducted.

Defining internal goals is important, but what often gets overlooked is helping understand the goals of the partner. Understand their skills, passions, and how they want to get involved, so you can best help them utilize those for the partnership.

Diversity of experience and expertise is paramount. All partners should bring a different, original and valuable expertise into a partnership. Each must be able to explain how their contribution can lead to the success of the projects being planned.

Cast vision of your organization for the partner, and help them see how they can fit into the work. Be punctual, authentic, and prepared to answer the questions they may have.

Whiteboards are still the most effective means of working toward goals within a given setting. By laying out strategies, plans, goals and enabling objectives, each partner can adjust the overall schematic displayed. Hopefully, each change noted on the boards will get the partnership closer to profitability and success.

Partnerships should not be considered intra-group affiliations only. Inter-agency partnerships allow adding resources without additional costs. This is especially the case in research groups. Attaining patents, certifications, grants and cooperative ventures can be accellerated through inter-agency sharing of resources.

One way to celebrate progress and achievements is by publishing results to peer reviewers. In research partnership, keeping media attention on one's progress and achievements tend to attract attention to others who may wish to contribute to the venture.