Using value management techniques to set up partnering agreements

The primary issues associated with partnering are reviewed and a research proposition examined. The research proposition is that where the activity of the setting up of a partnering agreement is seen to be a project then the structured team based techniques of value management provide an effective and efficient means of formulating the partnering agreement. The paper outlines a funded action research project, which describes the method of compilation of specific value management techniques conducive to a partnering workshop. A definition of partnering for the purposes of this paper is; the achievement of a strategic or tactical objective by engaging with other organizations on the basis of; a clear understanding of each party’s commercial and social objectives, with co-operative decision making, using a common feedback structure, to facilitate continuous improvement. A partnership is characterized by trust amongst the parties together with risk sharing.