Do all parties have the resources and expertise that they need to see the process through? Have you examined opportunities for accelerating the process? Have you attracted sufficient market and partner interest?  Are you confident that your preferred partner is a good match? Is the business case robust and realistic? Do you have enough information to define the improvement needed and to track its subsequent delivery? Do you know what any contract will cost across its whole life?  Is the rate of return for your partner fair and proportionate? Do you understand what it is to be a good receiver of services or, better still, a partner?

With the right partner and a clear picture of their goals, organisations can build the conditions that will create true success. The implementation phase is critical to building-in those conditions.  These will include selecting the procurement route, constructing the commercial framework, choosing like-minded partners and reaching the final decision.  This phase is high on resource, distraction and emotion and should not begin without a clear picture of the outcomes, the desired new delivery model, business case and stakeholder management plan.

At EightyTwenty Insight we believe in 'Legislating for Success'© - not failure. All too often clients can come under extreme pressure to anticipate everything that could possibly go wrong and to make sure that it is addressed in the contract and in the governance arrangements.  However, overemphasising risks can lead to the decay and eventual failure of the partnership. A much more positive and sophisticated approach is to 'Legislate for Success'©. This means that the primary goal during negotiation and implementation is creating the conditions for success rather than imagining and catering for every possible failure.  It is countercultural – especially for traditionalists and risk managers – but is fast becoming the preferred approach; it is also being advocated by many experienced law firms.

There is a great deal to do during Implementation. Our comprehensive methodology provides the tools and templates to ensure that nothing is missed. For example: the procurement approach; the appropriate tender documents; the negotiation strategy; the transition plan; the governance arrangements.

Only once all of these products are in place are you ready to move into Transition.


Next stage: Transition