Partnering is a formal process that brings key project participants (stakeholders) together to communicate effectively and work as a team to define and achieve mutually beneficial goals. Partnering is a mutual commitment by the parties to facilitate improved contract performance which relies on each stakeholder understanding the communication styles, goals and organizational interests of the other members.
To form an ADR-oriented partnership, the parties form a relationship based upon teamwork, cooperation and a shared vision for success. The process is focused on accomplishing common goals and objectives, and includes an agreement to avoid surprises and expeditiously resolve disputes at the lowest possible level. Through this commitment to improve communications between the all stakeholders, potential disputes are prevented from arising, or at least recognized at an early stage where satisfactory resolution is more attainable. The key to all partnering approaches is communication.
Partnering is about:
- how stakeholders on the project want the project to be conducted;
- how those involved on the project want to treat and be treated by one another developing confidence building measures that will allow each person and organization to make the greatest contribution possible to the project;
- developing shared goals for the project that will form an understanding in such a way that all partners measure success based upon the ability of the project to meet the greatest number of those interests;
- working together to create procedure and action plans to help realize shared goals;
- developing procedures to resolve disputes as they come up quickly, efficiently and fairly.