ExecTec on Collaboration

I recently attended a lunch that discussed collaboration in the post production world.

What surprised me was not that the discussion was had but the nature of the discussion. The discussion did not center on the free flow and exchange of ideas. There was not much discussion of the tools that would facilitate the need for multiple companies both content creators and service providers to coordinate their efforts.

What the conversation centered around was that Collaboration is about vendors that are partners where there is transparency and trust that enables better revenue streams.

Sounds like the definition of “customer intimate” from the 90’s book “The Discipline of Market Leaders: Choose Your Customers, Narrow Your Focus, Dominate Your Market (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010NYB7Y/ref=yml_dp)”. These companies deliver value not by delivering what the market wants but what a specific customer wants.

Is the customer / vendor relationship changing? Are customers willing to take on vendors as partners rather than adversaries?

Ultimately vendors must shift from being focused on their product lines and take a bigger interest in their customer relationships.

This requires putting the customers need ahead of the vendors but likewise customers need to be willing to open up and share information they might not otherwise be willing to share.

How are you collaborating with your customers?

Are you willing to set aside an exclusive customer / vendor relationship if your customer would benefit from working with multiple vendors and not just you?

Join us as we explore the advantages of collaborating with one’s customers and vendors as opposed to seeing them as the simple means to an end.

As always, there is no better way to meet and connect with other executives then over dinner and conversation. $21 in advance via PayPal or $25 at the event gets you a full dinner, drink and the best networking around.