Strategic alliances are increasing at a rapid rate. It is good for business, good for the consumer. A strategic alliance is similar to a joint venture. Everyone remains in his or her own entity, yet come together for a single purpose or period of time to create something that could not otherwise be created.
There are cautions and rightly concerns one must consider before entering into a strategic alliance with other people. For instance, evaluating each partner's value and capabilities for alliance is mandatory before agreeing to an alliance. The who, what, when, where and whys all need clarification with failsafe boundaries.
There are many considerations when developing a strategic alliance, here are six main areas along with questions that you will want to answer to help you determine your own readiness for an alliance.
1. Assessing contributions. What do you or each partner bring to the alliance? What is each person's purpose and goals?
2. Agreeing to the terms. This has three parts: (1) area of interest, (2) net benefits, and (3) joint operations. What interest is yours and what is theirs. Strategic interests must be similar and materials or services comparable. Economic interest must have enough benefits for each to remain committed and minimize trade. There must an operational agreement.
3. Agreement on task and skills. Who is the apprentice on what? Who will be name master on what? Who is going to specifically be responsible to complete what task? Who is going to learn what? What is the division of duties?
4. Defining and measuring progress. Who is going to define or handle sales? What target market will be pursued and when? What is the process chart for a new product or service? How will the revenue be generated and distributed? What will occur if the measurements aren't met?
5. Progress and time. Who is tracing the progress and the time invested? Is the time to be contributed equal or is there a trade-off for other resources? Who and when will the progress reports be regularly discussed and completed? Is there going to be a board that will monitor equality and fairness?
6. Points of tension. When there are points of tension, and there always is so don't kid yourself that there never will be, is an outside source going to be the arbitrator? When tension occurs does it need to be expressed in writing first and then discussed? Is there a cool-down period that is required? Who is going to sign off on checks, balance the checkbook, and monitor cash flow?
So many questions, so little time. Yes, I understand, however, this one time you want to stop and open time, address these questions, and any others might need to be addressed.
? Copyright 2004, Catherine Franz. All rights reserved.
Catherine Franz, a eight-year Certified Professional Coach, Graduate of Coach University, Mastery University, editor of three ezines, columnist, author of thousands of articles website: http://www.abundancecenter.com blog: http://www.abundancecenter.com
recurring cleaning service Wilmette ..Microsoft Great Plains does wonderful ERP job for horizontal markets... Read More
Experts estimate that 90 percent of Australian businesses are overspending... Read More
With the help of balanced scorecard strategy map, it is... Read More
Writing a business plan to help you direct and manage... Read More
You have invested a lot of time and energy on... Read More
Ask a small business owner about their strategic plan and... Read More
"Begin with the end in mind," says Stephen Covey in... Read More
Conventional wisdom has it that there are only three ways... Read More
No "meme" isn't a typo and Got Milk, the more... Read More
Canada's lean leaders need to look beyond the horizon and... Read More
If ever there were an industry where we want zero... Read More
Mobile auto detailing equipment becomes very inexpensive around March each... Read More
This will make some people angry as hell, but it's... Read More
1. Attempt Succession Planning Without Other Strategic Plans. Succession plans... Read More
If you own a mobile car wash business or auto... Read More
"Did you hear what your competitor is doing?" This question... Read More
So you've decided to write your own business plan because... Read More
Have you ever done a SWOT analysis? No, it's not... Read More
Many business start-up kits or consultants will tell you one... Read More
Does the competition drive you crazy?Are they relentless about taking... Read More
No matter what business you plan to start in your... Read More
How are you feeling today? Good, not so good, great?... Read More
In today's rapidly changing and highly competitive markets, many privately... Read More
Part 1A few weeks ago I attended a seminar sponsored... Read More
The decision to sell, or not to sell your business... Read More
reliable maid service Morton Grove ..This week I coached a wonderfully lovely woman I'll call... Read More
If you are in the parking business and own or... Read More
Writing a business plan can be tricky when all the... Read More
Writing a business plan to help you direct and manage... Read More
How you finance the expansion of your business is important.... Read More
You know you need a business plan. You probably realize... Read More
Ask Yourself three simple questions that affect your strategy planning...... Read More
Many very successful business owners may never have had a... Read More
Business owners and entrepreneurs are, by nature, risk takers and... Read More
Mobile auto detailing equipment becomes very inexpensive around March each... Read More
Would you like to jumpstart your online or offline business... Read More
One of the most important initiatives in the domain of... Read More
A significant advantage of some business ideas is that the... Read More
Why do so many companies languish and watch as their... Read More
Imagine spending the same amount of money on marketing and... Read More
The format of a Business Plan is something that has... Read More
Ask a small business owner about their strategic plan and... Read More
Writing a business plan for a franchised outlet of a... Read More
The boom of the dot-com era in 1999 brought the... Read More
I read once that something like 30 percent of all... Read More
Franchised companies often require what some believe to be excessive... Read More
Too much goal setting and strategic planning can leave you... Read More
Growth through acquisition should not be considered an option reserved... Read More
Writing a business plan is an essential part of the... Read More
Writing a Business Plan these days is tough, venture capitalists... Read More
Strategic Planning |