British Standard on collaborative business working to reach ISO status

An easy way for organizations to stay ahead in the current business climate is by forging well-balanced relationships with other businesses to mutual benefit. This need was identified by BSI, the business standards company, when BS 11000 Collaborative Business Relationships was developed. Already a benefit to companies such as Network Rail and Costain, BS 11000 will form the basis of a new international standard to help set the benchmark for collaborative working.

Collaborative relationships are very valuable to growth, as demonstrated by the Connected Imperative Survey poll launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos 2013. A poll of over 2,000 global decision makers conducted by research-based communications firm PSB (Penn Schoen Berland) on behalf of Bank of America found: 90% felt greater collaboration between business, government and other organizations is essential to help deliver economic recovery; 67% said they had collaborated with at least one other in the last year and 44% said they expected their collaboration to rise. 
 
These figures show the importance of collaboration, but it can only succeed in a well-guided manner with a framework to steer businesses away from potential pitfalls. Collaborative working requires a change in behaviour, culture and existing ways of working and the new ISO standard will develop a framework for managing collaboration on such issues as joint working approaches, management structures, techniques and process.
 
David Hawkins from the Institute for Collaborative Working says, “There is already recognition from many international organizations that collaborative working adds real value and establishing an international standard can only benefit these approaches. An ISO based on BS 11000 will provide a robust platform to help organizations fully harness the power of collaboration and the Institute of Collaborative Working fully supports it.”
 
The new standard will benefit any organization involved in collaborative working, partnerships or supply chains globally. It will also help to aid international growth which is a key point on the future economic health agenda.
 
Dan Palmer Head of Market Development for Manufacturing and Services at BSI says, “The development of an ISO 11000 represents the perfect opportunity for collaboration champions and experts globally to share their insight. Having an internationally recognized standard will help organizations to foster cross-border partnerships that are based on effective collaboration.”

ISO 11000 can help businesses to:

  • Identify how relationship management can help achieve commercial objectives
  • Evaluate benefits of entering into single or multiple partner relationships
  • Select the right partner to complement objectives
  • Build a joint approach based on mutual advantage
  • Develop added value
  • Develop and execute a successful exit strategy
     

BSI also offers certification to BS 11000 which helps organizations gain independent recognition of their management of collaborative business relationships. 
 
The work to develop ISO 11000 is scheduled to start in February 2014. It will be developed using a consensus based approach through the collaboration of individuals around the world from industry, academia, government and more.