Collaborative Program Execution

Successful and effective collaborative program execution requires strong program management along with continuous improvement practices to ensure that the right things are done by the right people in the right sequences.  This program execution requires strong leadership in order to be effective  and this leadership can be very difficult in this type of environment.  The program execution leadership is a very difficult requirement to be successful in the execution and delivery of the network objectives.  This leadership cannot be downplayed because the network environment requires a continuous commitment and focus in order to ensure the successful execution of the collaborative programs.  

A great deal of effort must be focused on encouraging the participation of the network members in all aspects of collaborative programs management and execution.  This focus must be maintained across all aspects of the program management and delivery in order to ensure that retention and interest of the members.  The program execution and delivery, though is the linchpin to retaining interest and participation because the execution and as a result the delivery of the program objectives and benefits is what puts money in the pockets of the network partners.  The collaborative network partners will lose interest very quickly if they see that the benefits and objectives of the network programs are not delivered.

The participation and leadership of the delivery of these programs must be shared across the network partners for two reasons;

1. Retention of the partners will increase when they are provided the opportunity, or more accurately the requirement, to lead programs that deliver benefits to themselves.  This provides the opportunity for partners to guide and influence the delivery and benefits of programs that they champion.
2. Participation of the partners across the spectrum of partners.  The participation of partners is required in order to ensure the network delivers benefits to each of the partners.  There is no question that participation will ensure the requirements and benefits gained by the participants are greater and focused on the participant's needs.

Another important reason to sharing the program management is the network partner resource availability.  The network cannot continue without the collaboration and participation of the partners across the broad spectrum of all partners and not just a few outspoken partners. Each of the partners have their own internal priorities and goals and objectives and the best case scenario of the collaborative network partnership is the opportunity to share the effort, expertise and resulting benefits across this network.  Each of the partners cannot hope to generate the results and the benefits that can be achieved by the partnership.  However, each partner must remember the overarching concept of collaboration and sharing that is the foundation of this network.  This means that no one or small group of partners can be allowed to use the network as a type of outsourced resource pool.  The one method to ensure this is the shared program management and participation of each of the members.

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?