Collaboration Process Value

The inherent value provided by the collaboration processes and procedures supporting both the consumer community and the extended partner network is based on the assurance of a repeatable process that supports regular review and the method to incorporate modifications.  I am  not speaking here about any business value that is achieved as a result of the changes and improvements delivered as a result of following the process.  I am instead speaking of the value that the process and procedures bring to the delivery of business value, this value of the repeatable process allows the business to standardize and incorporate standard procedures into the process to help to manage the change and analysis in a very unstable and non-standard collaborative environment.

Change requires a standard method to support and guide the process and the ever increasing discontinuous change that is driven by the consumers and the consumer community can become overwhelming without a standard and repeatable process to guide the efforts.  The process does not necessarily ensure that business value will be delivered, it does however increase the likelihood that business value will be delivered and delivered on a regular and continuous basis.  Without the process, any value delivered to the business will be potentially non-repeatable and based more on the skill and the efforts from a few individuals.  With the process to support the methods, the value delivered to the business will be repeatable and not dependent on the efforts from a small number of individuals.  The process allows you to plan for and count on continuous improvements without depending on any herculean efforts from any group or individual participants.

This ability to bank on a steady stream of business value improvements brings a great deal of value to your business, the consumer community and your extended partner network.  This does not mean that the value delivery is guaranteed, it does however guarantee that the likelihood of a continuous stream of business value is much greater than without the process.  The key to continuous success is a robust process that supports a repeatable and continuous process improvement that is not dependant on any individual.  In fact, I think that the key objective of the standard and repeatable process is the elimination of any dependency on the efforts of any individual.  The process encourages the same success without regard for the specific individual driving the success. The process provides the sustainability that will carry the support and development of your community through changes of individuals that happen as a normal course of action.  People change, communities change, partners change and the process provides the map that supports the navigation through these changes.

And now for the audience participation portion of the show…

ECommerce will have wide ranging impacts on both the retail and manufacturing sectors.  How can you focus these abilities to improve the consumer's experience?  Improving the consumer’s experience will require a re-evaluation of the sales channels, the manufacturing channels and practices and the supply chain channels and practices from the raw materials to the consumers’ homes.  In order to ensure and maintain success in this new reality you must harness the tools and capabilities in many new areas.  How can you support these continuously changing requirements?