Elective themed modules
Creating and Managing Inter-organisational Relationships
It is estimated that for many firms, up to 75% of the products and services they provide are sourced from their suppliers, suggesting that relationships between firms are a key source of competitive advantage as opposed to the focus on managing processes and physical assets. World-class companies are increasingly adopting structured approaches to managing their network of relationships and treating these relationships as assets.
Underpinned by Cranfield's research with organisations, this elective module will be of particular interest to students working on organisational interfaces (e.g. business development, key account management, supply chain, purchasing, cross-functional project management).
Learning outcomes
On completion of this elective theme you will:
- understand the role of inter-organisational relationships in gaining competitive advantage
- have explored the complexity of inter-organisational relationships
- appreciate the role of formal (e.g. contracts) and informal (e.g. trust) governance mechanisms, their trade-offs and implications for relationship performance
- have explored key stages in the relationship building process
- have explored the principles, tools and frameworks of relationship segmentation
- understand the importance of managing relationships as networks
Lecturers: Mark Johnson, Marko Bastl, Richard Schoenberg and John Algar
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