1. Partner Perspective: Understanding of other partners and their roles; I will be more proactive as a partner versus being a vendor. Need to take vendor services beyond day-to-day delivery for full value
   
   
2. Client Perspective: The most important gain from day one was in building a comfort level with partners. I am confident that the relationships that I build through this workshop will continue; The willingness of our partners to work together on behalf of the customers and the company; Dealing with Partner issues together. We are all experiencing similar issues; The more time I spend thinking about our partners, the better I can help them (and us) succeed; Partners’ perspectives and needs – what they see as issues
   
   
3. Value of Partnering: I now know what a strong partnership means; Strengthening the partnership increases the value to both the Client and Partners; Pre-conditions for successful partnering; Partnership requires more "intimacy" to enable Partner and Client to better meet expectations; Partnering works only if needs of clients and vendors are satisfied (not a win-lose proposition); Partnering requires the same care and feeding as a good marriage
   
   
4. Problem Analysis & Resolution Tips: Problem identification and new process for resolving problems; Process of getting to the problem and refraining from jumping directly to the solution
   
   
5. Communication: Need for communication and asking for information; Value of communication, getting everyone together on same page; Criticality of communication and common understanding for success; Understanding communication differences; Better communication seems to be the key to a lot of the problems; Communication is key to partnering successfully
   
   
6. Relationships: Relationship building between individuals is an important part of building successful business relationships. Partnerships and relationships will change over course of time; Tips on starting new relationships; There is a greater diversity of outsourced relationships, than I was aware of. This sheds a new light on our existing relationships.
   
   
7. Vision/Big Picture: Need to talk about the "big picture" with outsourcing partners; Share company vision with vendors; Need better definition of vision for partnership; Service providers have a lack of clarity on how they can contribute our vision and our expectations
   
   
8. Think180: Customer experience
   
   
9. Outcomes: More focus and metrics for measuring success; Need more focus on adding value beyond cost reduction

Summary of Typical Benefits Cited

• Realizing the critical role that effective communication plays in achieving results
• Seeing the importance of partnering in creating business success
• Seeing the need to see the big picture and work with a strategic vision
• Understanding the value of processes and application of proven techniques
• Allowing partners to focus on their relationship with the client, and their client's needs
• Enabling partners to see or present new opportunities for providing value and solutions
• Providing a partnership model for other relationships and future relationships

Value (based on responses to fixed questions)

100%  gained a greater understanding of managing and ensuring vendor performance

 87%  gained a greater understanding of what it takes to create effective partnerships

 85%  know how to solve vendor problems more effectively

 70%  will approach the partnership with more openness, confidence and focus on results

 65%  gained a greater appreciation of the value of partnering

 60%  will try new approaches or use new methods they could not do before

Ratings (using a scale of 1 – 5, where 1 = poor; 5 = excellent)

Meeting stated objectives  –  4.3

Instructors  –  4.5

Materials  –  4.3

Feedback

See the Feedback page for more direct quotes from participants.