ISO 44001:2017 defines the requirements for a management system that enables organisations to plan, implement, and improve collaborative business relationships. Unlike traditional contracts or transactional partnerships, this standard focuses on building trust, shared values, and structured frameworks to ensure sustainable success.
It supports organisations in:
- Creating structured processes for partner selection and engagement.
- Managing collaborations across industries and geographies.
- Bridging cultural and operational gaps between organisations.
- Establishing clear responsibilities, risk-sharing, and value-creation strategies.
- Ensuring collaborations have defined entry, operational, and exit strategies.
This standard is relevant to organisations of all sizes — from large corporations acquiring smaller entities to SMEs forming strategic alliances.
The Eight-Stage Life Cycle of Collaboration
A distinctive feature of ISO 44001 is its eight-stage life cycle model, which provides a structured pathway to build and sustain successful collaborations:
1. Operational Awareness – Understanding the strategic value of collaboration.
2. Knowledge – Gathering insights and aligning internal knowledge resources.
3. Internal Assessment – Evaluating organisational readiness for partnership.
4. Partner Selection – Identifying and engaging with the right collaborators.
5. Working Together – Establishing clear roles, processes, and responsibilities.
6. Value Creation – Generating mutual benefits from the collaboration.
7. Staying Together – Sustaining long-term relationships through trust and adaptability.
8. Exit Strategy Implementation – Managing closure or transition responsibly.
This framework ensures that organisations not only enter partnerships effectively but also sustain and exit them in a structured and professional manner.