The BSi Group (still described incorrectly by many as the "British Standards Institute") and PSL (Partnership Sourcing Limited) have published a Collaborative Business Relationships 'British Standard BS11000'.
I can't tell you if it's any good as it costs £110 to buy and I can't quite justify that. (The MOD have signed up to it apparently - anyone there like to lend me a copy)? I'm also not clear how the £110 document relates to the Supply Management / PERA / PSL "Guide to Collaborative Working" that was published last month and seems t be rleated to this new standard? (I will review that shortly).
I do struggle a little to see why I would want to have a 'standard' for relationship management- it hardly seems like the sort of repeatable business process which would lend itself to a formal standard.
And by the way.... hands up if you think BSi is some sort of official Government organisation?
I did believe that until recently, but they're not. They are an unusual beast; as their website says, "BSI has no shareholders or other “owners”. It is a commercial but non-profit distributing company. Its profits are re-invested in the business. It is not owned by and is independent of government."
Which is all fine, but just bear in mind they would seem to be as profit-focused as any private sector consulting / accreditation firm, with revenues of £200 million and profits of £20 million plus. And their three executive directors received over £1.7 million between them last year (page 73 of the accounts), so we're not talking public sector salaries either. The Chairman is on £145K a year, and the last CEO got £1.4 million in 2008 (including a hefty pay-off when he resigned). Which seems pretty good going even for a private sector firm of that size.
I think we can deduce therefore that new initiatives like this collaboration standard are not developed purely for the public good!
So work with BSi - and by all accounts they are very capable in many areas - and consider this standard, but don't think you're dealing with a nice cuddly public sector organisation if you do. And be aware that there are competitive alternatives in many cases to their offerings.
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