Companies are faced with great challenges every day.
One of the basic questions is: Do we join forces or perform independently?
This dilemma affects almost all companies. From the IT sector and VoIP services to production and service delivery. Cost analysis can give us a precise calculation, but the real situation can only be viewed on the market. The option of a joined strategy and a common market conquest – today is almost inevitable.
Many companies and entrepreneurs who want to maintain a stable position in the market are using this business tactic.
How to improve inter-company cooperation?
Imagine a situation where each individual company could produce its own product or service. If they could do it independently, there would be no need for cooperation. However, this is usually not the case. Nowadays, providing full customer service is essential.
In the context of an increasingly competitive environment, inter-company cooperation is necessary. Yet, in conditions where there is rivalry among companies, this becomes a real challenge.
Fortunately, there are many ways in which cross-sectoral relationships can be improved. This can be of great importance, in order to make business more efficient and more productive.
Encouraging Enterprise Collaboration
Regardless of the occasional market pressure, enterprise collaboration is not an imperative. Cooperation should be encouraged when there is a need.
There is always a need when employees are not independent in their work tasks. Mostly because of the need for increased specialization in work. More intensive inter-company cooperation also imposes a growing degree of business uncertainty. This is a big challenge with which companies face.
Namely, in the situation of uncertainty, there are many unknowns.
No one can say that he has all the necessary information.
Therefore, the factual situation from the perspective of different business functions becomes more and more important.
It can often be essential for the survival of the company.
Different types of incentives for enterprise collaboration
There are several ways in which inter-company cooperation can be achieved:
- Defining a common mission, goals and key corporate values.
- Formation of cross-company teams.
- Using communication and collaboration tools.
- Eliminating situations of overlapping competencies and responsibilities.
- Feel the pulse of employees.
- Promote each sector within inter-company cooperation.
- Organizing informal gatherings.
The importance of a joint mission
A common mission, vision, and goals are the common denominators of all organizational goals.
If the key values are well placed, they can easily create a synergistic effect.
The foundation is actually the creation of a common organizational culture.
This implies that employees exchange information and ideas with each other.
In such an organizational culture, collaboration and teamwork are more valuable than individual achievement and competitive spirit.
Cross-company teams
The most intensive cooperation between companies is achieved through joint work. In this case, we are talking about the formation of inter-company teams. Their members are employees from different companies and sectors.
In fact, it is about creating a parallel organizational structure consisting of project teams. They help different organizational parts to connect. Sometimes they are even crucial in overcoming obstacles in inter-sectoral cooperation.
Communication tools
In recent years, we have witnessed a real revolution in using communication software.
For eg., Google Documents is a collaborative document creation tool. This tool allows a large number of people to access, create and change documents that are made for the needs of a specific job at the same time.
There are also a number of software solutions for online meetings. They are used if you have the need for frequent and complicated remote appointments. Also, if you need to display someone’s desktop to a larger number of people, you should try and decide which type of solution you will use.
We should also mention Skype and Teamviewer as mass-use software within enterprise collaboration.
By using communication and collaboration tools, it is possible to create virtual teams. That way you can allow employees in different locations to work together.
Overlapping competencies and responsibilities
The situations in which overlapping competencies occur can lead to duplication of jobs. This reduces the efficiency of work, and the volume of work is unnecessarily increased. This often leads to conflict situations among different organizational units that interfere with successful cooperation among them.
Voice of employees
Some companies avoid employee surveys due to their own uncertainty. They are usually afraid that employees will experience that as an act of weakness, or a form of servility.
However, surveying employees should be a common practice. This sends the message to employees that they are valuable, important, and respected.
Surveying is a great way to hear the voice of employees from all organizational parts. This act brings a sense of justice and equality. It is also an ideal way to learn about the needs of different sectors. In addition, it is of great use when it comes to internal information and information exchange.
Promoting sectors within intercompany cooperation
Each sector needs to provide space for its own promotion within the company. In this way, it will be clear how each sector contributes to the total business of the company. It is very important that there is respect and that no sector is viewed with underestimation.
Organizing informal gatherings
Whenever possible, it is advisable to organize a party for employees from all organizational parts. It is an ideal opportunity to get to know each other better and socialize in a relaxed atmosphere. The lack of opportunity for employees to get to know each other better makes communication difficult.
And finally, one should not forget the note from the beginning. There is no need to insist on inter-company cooperation if there is no need. Sometimes the effort invested in this direction can slow the company down and can lead to counterproductiveness.
