b'THE WE IN PARTNERSHIPS ON DECK IN VOLUME VIIIn this issue of On The Move, we explore different kinds of partnerships, and explore how each type can help build expertise,influence, ability, and impact. Whether you call it a partnership, a joint venture, a strategicPartnerships That Solve Problems | p. 45alliance, or just working together,partnerships between two orSometimes prebuilding a framework for partnerships can allow organizations to quickly address challenges as they arise. more entities can dramatically improve your organizations abilityEight Is That Make We The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners created the Center for Partnerships & Innovation (CPI) to identify to learn, grow, act, and react in new and productive ways.emerging issues and facilitate partnerships among state commissioners to meet challenges. We spoke with the director of CPI,Maybe thats why partnerships have become so common. ButAdapted from Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Harvard BusinessDanielle Byrnett and explored partnerships designed to solve specific problems. Read Coming Together to Solve a Problem on partnerships arent a new concept. In fact, according to theSchool professor. pages 4 and 5 to learn how they tackle nationwide issues facing our industry with partnerships. famous economist, Max Weber, todays commercialpartnerships have their roots in the Medieval era. At the heart 1 INDIVIDUAL EXCELLENCE Partners Committed to Sharing Knowledge | p. 68of those primitive agreements are legal frameworks that still Each partner must have and bring As the COO of the American Gas Association (AGA), Lori Traweek leads an organization that represents several non-competing utility characterize the basic structure of present-day partnerships.strengths and skills into the relationship.companies. While Traweek has been in the oil and gas industry for most of her career, serving as the head of the AGA has allowed her new opportunities to build knowledge partnerships among members. Working with other people and organizations is a smart way to expand your knowledge base, intellectual capital, capabilities or2 IMPORTANCE The AGA is able to offer members conferences, webcasts, and other forums that allow the best minds across the industry to share product offerings, market area, and even your ability to do good.information and identify ways to continually improve operations. The AGA also acts as a partner that helps members understand But with all this good, comes workpartnerships dont Join only if it is strategic to merge.energy trends and brings them together to participate in energy policy discussions. According to Traweek, We are better when we grow themselves.work together and engage partners who have a common goal.How to Find Prosperity in Partnerships 3 INTERDEPENDENCE Partnerships That Cascade Influence | p. 811Similar to relationships, business partnerships can be fragile. The resources brought by each partner Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) is well-versed in the power of partnerships. Calvin Butler, CEO of parent-company Exelon Utilities, is Because businesses rely on partnerships to be successful,must fill existing gaps suffered by the other.dedicated to creating altruistic partnerships throughout their market area. Although BGE already has a large, well-developed giving finding and walking the path that stacks the deck in an alliancesteam in place, they continue to seek out partners that can help them drive economic development, improve public safety, andsupport civic issues and concerns.favor is a frequent subject of discussion. Coalitions of any kind4 INVESTMENT In this issue, the 200-year-old company explains how partnerships with The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and the James Mosherneed to be continually nurtured, says Rosabeth Moss Kanter, aPut skin in the game. Commit capitalprofessor at the Harvard Business School and chair and directoror assume risks.Baseball League helped them improve the quality of life for Baltimore, one neighborhood at a time. of the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative.We hope that this special issue of On The Move inspires you to think of new ways to leverage your professional relationships in In order for partnerships to be prosperous, its critical to 2020 and beyond.understand how each relationship will benefit your teams goals5 INFORMATION ABOUT THE COVERand objectives. Kanter proposes Eight Is That Make We to helpBe clear and transparent in allcompanies identify and create useful partnership opportunities. communications to foster ahealthy relationship. Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a professor at the Harvard Business School, chair and director of the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative (20052018), and author of new book, Think Outside the Building: How Advanced Leaders Can6 INTEGRATION A Merge Left sign stands amongst a sign-storageChange the World Once Smart Innovation at a Time. Get the organizations together for manywall in our warehouse at our Maryland facility. points of contact. Why feature a merge sign on the cover of our partnershipedition? For many reasons: 7 INSTITUTIONALIZATION 1. The word merge is a play on the word partnership, andHave governance that speaks on behalfof the alliance itself, not just the partners.what better way to use the word than to show a way wecommunicate it.2. In traffic control, we partner with clients in safety to8 INTEGRITY improve infrastructure. Together, we work in cooperation Honesty and strong moral principles doing our part to keep everyone safe and ourwill guide the actions of the players, communities moving.building trust. We hope that you appreciate the thought behind buildingour own connectiona partnership, if you willwith theUsing the Eight Is That Make We, from Kanters article,theme itself. How to Strike Effective Alliances and Partnerships, is a good way to start identifying and evaluating partnerships in your industry.'