Partnering doesn ’ t just happen. For partnerships to fl ourish with mutual benefi t, a lot of hard work is necessary. Search for examples of mutually benefi cial and troubled partnerships by reading trade publications and searching news sources. See if you can fi nd examples from various stakeholder groups, such as customers, suppliers, competitors, government agencies, local communities, activist groups, the media, labor unions, and fi nancial intermediaries. Explore the following questions:

a. What does each partner gain from the alliance or relationship?

b. Are the partners equally strong? Are their skills complementary?

c. Are the partners equally committed to the relationship?

d. How do the partners handle shifts in the value of their contributions overtime?

e. Is the alliance the only one between the two partners or part of a web of alliances between the same partners?