As post-recession challenges bite, business leaders and managers are evaluating their optimum approach to customers, suppliers and partners. Consensus across all sectors is that a collaborative approach will deliver better value for customers and provide suppliers with a stable environment that encourages sustainable growth.
In recognition, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has committed to adopt the first-ever standard on business collaboration – namely BS 11000, developed by BSI. Having already worked with numerous companies on a collaborative basis, the MoD affirms that collaborative working will feature as a key element of their business operation wherever it is shown to be appropriate.
The challenges that MoD faces in the future will continue to require various forms of joint working to ensure that it drives the greatest amount of innovation, efficiency and value from the supply chain that supports Defence. Overall efficacy of these relationships, however, is largely dependent upon an understanding of the principles of collaboration. As MoD concurs, this is where BS 11000 steps in.
The newly-introduced BSI standard is designed to provide specific guidance, smoothing the path to an increasing number of collaborative arrangements.
MoD engages with industry on collaborative programmes to continually increase the value it receives from the money it spends. In recognition of this benefit the Department has adopted the principles of BS11000 and is embedding these across the MoD and the defence industry.
This standard was introduced in order to provide the first-ever, all-inclusive principles of collaboration. It is based on a previous Public Available Specification – PAS 11000 – which was initiated by Partnership Sourcing Ltd (PSL), as a joint initiative between the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Confederation of Business Industry (CBI).
BSI’s CEO Howard Kerr says: “Strategic partnerships are critical to business success. With businesses and sectors worldwide looking to move forward from economic recovery, organisational partnerships are becoming increasingly attractive. The new BSI standard provides organizations with a strategic framework to improve collaborative relationships, apply good practice principles, and manage valuable business relationships within the supply chain.”
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An example of partnering for innovation and efficiency is demonstrated by Ascent Flight Training who recently achieved PAS 11000 certification. Ascent – a Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach combining Ascent, the Directorate of Flying Training for No 22 (Training) Group and the UK Military Flying Training System Integrated Project Team (MFTS IPT) from the MoD – provides a world class flying training system for the UK’s military aircrew. By using the Collaborative Relationship framework, Ascent has achieved a programme that is affordable, demonstrably value for money, and capable of improving the quality of the equipment, courses and infrastructure.
