#1 Collaboration Principle for Ecosystems: Relationship Management Plan

While listed as number one among the twelve collaboration principles in the ISO 44000 document, the Relationship Management Plan is really a template that over time captures how you agree to collaborate as you figure it out. Many of the other 11 principles will find their home in the relationship plan as they are fleshed out to provide operating guidance to the ecosystem collaboration. You may start with a corporate-level relationship plan (and in fact the standard specifies that you do). But expect that high-level plan to change as you assemble your partners, as they will have their own ideas and plans. These relationship plans will need to be harmonized so that you arrive at a plan of record for the collaboration. The relationship plan can be highly customized when you are addressing a small-scale ecosystem of a handful of partners. In larger ecosystems, it becomes a model for self-alignment.

The team charter can be used as a lighter-weight alternative to the relationship plan. The team charter is a short document, ideally one or two pages, that summarizes the key agreements between the partners. It usually starts with the statement of purpose, which is your common vision of why you are partnering—your North Star.

From there, your charter should explain your business objectives, a description of the value you expect to create through partnering, how you will measure success, and how you will manage your relationship. An effective charter will ensure that you have the right conversations with your partners and that you document a shared plan of record of your agreements and expectations.

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Below is a depiction of all twelve collaborative principles. You can access a more comprehensive description here.