"Collaborative advantage will be achieved when something unusually creative is produced - perhaps an objective is met - that no organization could have produced on its own and when each organization, through the collaboration, is able to achieve its own objectives better than it could alone."
Chris Huxham (1996) Creating Collaborative Advantage

The productivity hypothesis underpinning partnering

"Partnering is a commitment by both customers and suppliers, regardless of size, to a long-term relationship based on clear, mutually agreed objectives to strive for world class capability and competitiveness. It involves the parties addressing all aspects of the 'cost' of doing business together and not just looking at 'unit price'. It aims to build in quality based on the team work approach using shared information wherever possible."
Partnership Sourcing Ltd (1996)


Partnering in the construction industry

"Partnering is a structured management approach to facilitate teamworking across contractual boundaries. Its fundamental components are formalised mutual objectives, agreed problem resolution methods, and an active search for continuous measurable improvement."
Construction Industry Board (1998)