The document discusses the role of collaborative working in achieving sustainability and enhancing business relationships, emphasizing its benefits such as reduced CO2 emissions, improved safety, and increased business opportunities. It highlights the complexities and myths surrounding collaboration while advocating for its necessity in fostering investment and development. Additionally, it presents frameworks and standards, including ISO 44003 and ISO 44004, to improve collaborative practices across various organizational sizes.

1. Collaboration in Sustainability
David E Hawkins
ICW Chief Operating Officer
& Knowledge Architect
The Next Evolution of Collaborative Working
“Collaborative working to create sustainable value in business relationships”
Evergreen House North, Euston, London NW1 2DX | Email: enquiries@icw.uk.com | Tel: 0203 691 1530
© Copyright ICW | Version 1_2021_ICW

2. ICW Purpose and Vision
Purpose
To support people, organisations and business to understand the value of
collaboration and the benefits achieved through collaborative working
Our Vision
To be the home of collaboration where good practice is shared and supported with
research, experience and training, building a global community that recognises the
development of skills and knowledge of collaborative working practices.
Through our community we will enhance the professional relationships of business,
public sector and wider society to produce greater value in the outcomes for all.

3. Background to ICW
• Formed in 1990 by DTI now BEIS and the CBI
• Assist organisations to develop collaborative relationships for competitiveness
• Develop, share, promote best practice Business Relationship Management
• Self financing - Not for Profit
• 30 years of practical relationship management experience
• Executive Knowledge Network 80+ members
Government
Pan-industry
Business
Academia
International
Organisations
Industry
Associations

4. Tomorrow’s World Today

5. Can we ignore reality?

6. The Global Goals

7. Unintended consequences

8. September 2021 ICW Awards Submission 8
Benefits Of the Collaboration
Reduction in
CO2 – directly &
indirectly (7386
t)
Security of
supply
Fixed pricing
Improved safety
& less storage
from SMART
fuel tank
Increased
business
opportunities
Increased
exposure
Ability to do
more trials
Access to
framework
agreement
Increased
knowledge &
awareness
Improved
working
conditions on
sites using HVO
Improved air
quality
Better planet
Skanska Green Biofuels Supply Chain
Wider
Community

9. Self interest or work together

10. Lets get real
• Without creating wealth there is no investment
• Without Investment there is no development
• Without development there is no sustainability
• Without sustainability there is no future
Without collaboration there is no chance to advance
We can’t just expect others to take up challenge

11. Why Collaborate?

12. Complexity of the project environment

13. Perceptions of Collaboration
Team hug
Synchronised swimming with sharks

14. How many times do we hear these
Collaboration
…Without context is just an aspiration
Collaborative
…Without setting expectations is wishful thinking
Collaborative working
…Without rules of engagement is chaos
Collaborative behaviour
…Without definition provides no measure of reality

15. Prioritising successful outcomes
© copyright ICW – Revision 5 - 2020
Myths, Monsters and Magic
MYTHS
Collaboration is Soft & Fluffy
Just being nice to each other
Collaboration limits recognition
Collaboration hampers progress
Inhibits Constructive conflict
Clients only value those facing them
Only self interest powers people
MONSTERS
People cannot be trusted
Systems prevent Collaboration
Efficiency is solely a factor of time
Collaboration dilutes focus
Parochial interpretation of rules
Protectionism over performance
The way its always been
MAGIC
Management sets the agenda
Relationships drive performance
People do not aim to fail
Joint objectives drive outcomes
Logic should override perception
Shared knowledge is joint power
Success benefits all parties

16. What is the focus on relationships
• Structural complexity: Number, size, financial scale, interdependencies, variety, pace, technology, breadth of scope, number
of specialities, multiple locations/time-zones.
• Socio-political complexity: People, politics, stakeholder / sponsor commitment, resistance, shared understanding, fit, hidden
agendas, conflicting priorities, transparency.
• Emergent complexity: Technological and commercial maturity and novelty, clarity of vision / goals, clear success criteria /
benefits, previous experience, availability of information, unidentified stakeholders
Research by Cranfield University –School of management

17. Benefits of Collaborative Working
1. Better problem solving
2. Reputation
3. Customer satisfaction
4. Increased trust
5. Business performance
6. Innovation
7. Continuous improvement
8. Better supply chain relationships
9. New competence & skills development
10.Employee satisfaction
11.Customer retention
12.Lower operating costs
Warwick Business School executive research- commissioned by ICW

18. Benefits of the Framework Standard

19. Collaborative working structure not rhetoric

20. The 44000 family grows
Built on the experience of ICW and Its members

21. ISO 44003 pilot programme

22. ISO 44004 Hot off the press
Complementary to ISO 44003 (guidance for MSMEs), ISO 44004 provides
recommendations to large organisations, that will help them take an agile and
balanced approach when working with MSMEs
˃ MSMEs typically bring more agility and flexibility to a collaborative
relationship.
˃ But limited resources and structures when it comes to management
processes, so can be overwhelmed by large organisations requirements.
˃ If mismatches occur all parties miss out on the intended and expected value
and returns from collaboration.

23. We need to work together in a crisis !
How we collaborate today will…..
……… strengthen relationships for the future

24. Prioritising successful outcomes
Questions