Unit 5 Discussion Board Responses
Jason Heyland
Business Research for Decision Making: MGT600
Unit 5 Discussion Board – Part 2
When two or more organizations are making an attempt to align strategies to achieve a common goal there are some steps that must be taken to ensure a smooth successful process. There are many reasons for business to align and some of those include joint ventures, networking, partnerships, and vertical buyer-supplier relations (SMS 2023). Communication between the two companies is essential as to ensure all parties are on the same page of understanding the goal and the necessary steps to accomplish said goals.
Some other things to take into consideration are the planning of such a strategic move. Both organizations would also need to be in a position to be able to trust each other. Ensuring the proper project leaders are assigned to the project so progress can be monitored. And figuring out how to deal with any set-backs and/or problems that may arise during the implementation.
A good example of this type of collaboration is in the auto industry. Ford partnered with Mazda to be able to use their inline cylinder engine designs as they are very efficient motors. Mazda already owns this technology so it made more sense for Ford to establish a partnership to be able to avoid the high costs of research and development associated with designing a new engine. These engines can be found in a lot of the newer model Ford Escapes. The goal her was cost savings and Ford achieved their goal by collaborating with Mazda.
When everyone at both organizations has been properly informed and a pathway of open communication among both entities has been established the opportunity for a successful plan strengthens. Everyone involved needs to be on board with the changes and aware of the timelines to complete the project.
References
SMS. Strategic Management Society (2023). Cooperative Strategies IG. Retrieved at