Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/210252
HRO Today Forum Europe Preview Relationship Advice Four pillars to follow to ensure a successful strategic partnership. By Jon Kirby Most strategic business relationships start out with great expectations and high hopes. But once the ink is dry on the contract and the first round of productivity wears off, frustration, disappointment, and in the end, separation, can be the result. What is the key to a long, fruitful strategic relationship that doesn't meet but exceeds expectations? With the experience I've gained from leading many large and complex outsource relationships, as well as overseeing internal shared service organisations, I believe there are four foundational pillars that drive a strategic relationship for optimal performance: [10] HRO TODAY GLOBAL | AUTUMN 2013 Operational transparency Commercial transparency Culture and behaviours Capabilities Operational transparency. In any relationship, trust is easier to build when there is absolute transparency. However, this is far too often lacking in strategic relationships. Client organisations do not fully share business context, dynamics, and in many instances prevent service providers from engaging directly with customer executives or management. Likewise, service providers don't often divulge critical operational drivers, risks, people issues,