The truth about Public Private Partnerships by Colin Cram (Part 1 of 3)
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Strategic Relationships Solutions Inc. (SRS)
A knowledge-based, strategic services and collaboration management firm specializing in achieving results for clients through planning, sourcing, and managing sustainable and agile business relationships.
SRS was federally incorporated in 1999 with the vision of enabling clients to succeed in the execution of their organizational strategies so that they might achieve the desired outcomes and benefits of their efforts while mitigating the structural risks that so often imperil complex multi-stakeholder projects and programs.
SRS’s roots go back to Digital Equipment Corporation. After the Compaq Acquisition, the Senior Management Team for the Digital Outsourcing Business Unit left Digital to form SRS.
Since then, SRS has become a vital and trusted management consulting partner for many government organizations and Global 500 companies. On the cutting edge of professional management consulting services and solutions, SRS focuses its strengths and depth of experience on organizations and sectors that are taking a leadership role in modernizing the way they do business and how they deliver better value to their clients, partners, and other stakeholders.
Our Team
Our team brings a fresh new perspective and a proven methodology for achieving better outcomes at lower risk in complex scenarios. Our team represents a unique combination of senior executives and practitioners with decades of hands-on experience in the public and private sectors. We work with our clients to discover problems in new ways and design and implement solutions that deliver superior sustainable value to all stakeholders.
Our Relationship Business Model (RBM™)
We bring a new relationship-based approach and an adaptive, flexible, and systematic model and implementation methodology for managing uncertainty and achieving optimum outcomes in complex Projects, Outsourcing, ASD initiatives, and public-private partnerships. RBM™ was born out of extremely successful experience in outsourcing and partnerships while at the Digital Operations Management Business unit and was evolved and refined over time through many successful public and private sector engagements. Our Model and implementation methodology is described in the book “Relationships First, The New Relationship Paradigm in Contracting” by Andy Akrouche, third edition 2017.
Services We Provide
The cornerstone of our service offerings is our Relationship Business Model (RBM®), which has been developed and refined over 25 years, working with the public sector, private sector, and leading academic institutions. RBM® is a highly collaborative business relationship management model that operationalizes ISO 44001 and is supported by a collaboration body of knowledge containing a stakeholder convergence process, rich frameworks, tools, templates, and samples of proven collaboration management frameworks.
Working to address the increasing volatility, Complexity, Uncertainty, and Ambiguity in today’s business environment, SRS delivers cutting-edge professional management consulting services and collaboration management solutions that deliver better project outcomes at lower risk and cost. Our Core Services include:
Strategy
- Project or Program Reviews and Health Checks
- Macro Industry Scans, Jurisdictional Scans, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT), and Micro Industry Analysis
- Market Sounding
- Option Analysis Cultural Assessments
- Collaboration Performance Reviews
- Alternative Forms of Delivery Assessments
- Value for Money (VFM) assessments and recommendations
- Business Case Development and approval
- Sustainable Procurement and Supply Chain Modernization
Relational Contracting Management
- Industry Collaborative Engagement
- Procurement Strategies
- Request for RFx Preparation
- Sustainable Procurement and Partnering
- Pairwise Comparison Evaluation
- Model Contract
- Collaboration Management Framework
- Basis of Payment
- Evaluation and Selection
- Interest-Based Negotiations
- Transition Management
- Establishing and Operationalizing Collaboration Management Frameworks
Resetting Existing Business Arrangements for Greater Success
- Awareness of strategic business relationship management and collaboration
- Relationship and Contract Performance Evaluation
- Collaboration Evaluation
- Cultural assessments
- Relationship and collaboration solutions development
- Convergence workshops
- Operationalization of collaboration framework
- Collaboration Change Management.
Managing Strategic Relationships
- Establishing collaboration and relationship management office
- Managing the operation of the joint governance system
- Collaborative relationships management awareness, capacity building, and knowledge transfer
- Managing collaboration performance, enablement, risk, issues, and concerns
- Ongoing Value for Money Analysis
- Managing the Continuous Improvement and Innovation Program
- Meeting ISO 44001 requirements.
Training in Collaboration Management
- ISO 44001 Assessments and Recommendations
- Developing Collaborative Competencies
- Relational Contracting Training:
- 1-Day Essentials
- 2-Day Managers
- 3-Day Professional
- Collaborative Working Cultures and Behaviours
- Collaborative Leadership
Bid/Win Proposal Support
- Support capture managers and bid/win teams with ready-to-tailor relationship management and collaboration plans for complex pursuits
- Provide training, coaching, and collaboration plan development and integration into proposals
- Provide implementation, operationalization, and management support after contract award
Additional Information for Client Partner
The ideal candidate should be a seasoned executive with a collaborative mindset and excellent skills in stakeholder engagement, interest alignment, management consulting, and executive advising.
- As a lead representative of SRS, the Client Partner is responsible for evaluating, defining, and overseeing coordination of collaboration management services. Effective communication between client organizations, their clients, and partners is crucial. The Client Partner must work closely with all levels of the client leadership and operational team, program managers, subject matter experts, and individual contributors to build and maintain relationships that ensure the program’s success.
- The Client Partner will establish strong, long-lasting, collaborative partnerships as a trusted advisor to SRS Clients’ executives, project sponsors, and key stakeholders. Additionally, the Client Partner will lead the development, operationalization, and ongoing management of the collaboration frameworks and help clients extend their collaborative maturity, capacity, and skills.
- The Client Partner will also perform hands-on project work, including analysis, design, process re-engineering, and change management, as needed by the project. Finally, they will develop integrated program plans to ensure the successful implementation of collaborative initiatives.
Key requirements
- To be eligible for this position, you should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. A master’s degree is preferred but not mandatory. You should also have at least 15 years of experience in management consulting and client relationship management in Strategic Sourcing, Outsourcing, Partnering, and delivery management of complex projects and transformational initiatives.
- Understanding of interest-based negotiations and issue resolution, governance architecture design and management, and a good understanding of collaborative behaviors.
- Understanding of the contractual framework in the public sector in Canada, and relational contracting management.
- In-depth knowledge and skill in responding to RFPs for planning and executing complex management consulting engagements in the public sector, particularly defense, infrastructure, and procurement.
- Demonstrated ability to employ strategy, strategic planning, organization design, innovation, and continuous improvement management methodologies, industry standards, and tools.
- Excellent executive communication, including active listening, negotiation, and executive presentation skills, are essential. The Candidate should have excellent interpersonal, persuasion, and negotiation skills and should be able to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing.
Interested candidates please forward your resume to: resumes@srscan.com.
Additional Information for Collaboration Manager
Key Responsibilities:
- Project Planning and Execution:
- Manage and report on project plans, including objectives, timelines, and deliverables.
- Monitor project activities to ensure timely completion within budgetary constraints.
- Monitor Project Performance against a set of KPIs and service levels
- Proactively identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Facilitate communication and collaboration among diverse teams, departments, and external partners.
- Foster a collaborative culture by promoting open communication and knowledge sharing.
- Act as a liaison between different teams to ensure alignment with project goals.
- Stakeholder Management:
- establish strong relationships with key stakeholders and ensure their needs are understood and addressed.
- Communicate project progress, updates, and challenges to stakeholders in a clear and timely manner.
- Gather and incorporate feedback from stakeholders to enhance project outcomes.
- Resource Management:
- Coordinate and allocate resources effectively to optimize project efficiency.
- Monitor resource utilization and make adjustments as needed to meet project objectives.
- Work closely with team leads to ensure proper resource allocation and utilization.
- Quality Assurance:
- Implement quality control measures to ensure that project deliverables meet or exceed expectations.
- Conduct regular reviews and assessments to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Ensure adherence to established project management methodologies and best practices.
- Documentation and Reporting:
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date project documentation, including project plans, progress reports, and risk assessments
- Facilitate Project Governance meetings and maintain decision records and action items
- Prepare and present regular reports to leadership and stakeholders.
- Document lessons learned and best practices for continuous improvement.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field.
- Proven experience in project stakeholder engagement with a focus on collaboration and cross-functional teams in large and complex projects
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
- Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Experience in Federal Government procurement and contract management
- CSM Certification or other relevant certifications are a plus.
David Hawkins
David is the founder of Midas Projects and architect of the CRAFT programme and relationship management methodology which was the foundation of the worlds first national standard for collaborative business relationships BS 11000, published in 2010. he subsequently became Chairman of the International Standards committee that migrating the British standard to an international standard in 2017 ISO 44001.
With an extensive career in projects, contract management and procurement within the construction and manufacturing industries over 40 years he has been associated with the development and implementation of major projects in many parts of the world.
Providing insight into the many organisational and cultural challenges that projects and global operations can generate. An active promoter of collaborative concepts and the development of extended enterprises through the building of alliances.
As an accomplished author, facilitator and trainer he is committed to sharing his experience and ideas to help organisations harness the power of collaboration.
John Kellenberger
Mr. Kellenberger has thirty years of experience working with both the public and private sectors in the area of complex business solutions including program-project management, planning, financial modelling, business case development, procurement, and operational management.
John has specialized expertise and strengths in the following areas:
- Program-project management & strategic planning
- Digital identity and identity management
- Business strategy/case/plan development
- Strategic procurements – definition, scope, strategy, SOW & SOR development, evaluations, facilitation and evaluator training
- Relational contracting & relationships management
- Alternate Service Delivery including analysis, implementation, and operations
- Financial and Operations management
- Results based planning and implementation
- Data management
Elmer Ozipko
Mr. Ozipko has over thirty – five years of experience working with both the private and public sectors.
His area of specialization is:
- Development & Evaluation of Complex Technology Procurements
- Management of People, Projects, Program & Business Relationships
- Establishing Outsourcing Solutions & Alternate Services Delivery Methods
- Development of Automated Procurement Tools used for:
- Development of On-lineTraining Courses
- Outsourcing & Alternate Services Delivery
- Developing Procurement Documents
- Facilitation & Evaluation of Proposals
- Proposed Resources Experience Calculation
- Overall Procurement Tracking
Sam Erry
Mr. Erry is a Senior Executive Associate Advisor with SRS with a passion for modernizing the way the public sector manages complex intra-public and public-private relationships. Holding a master’s degree in social sciences from the University of Toronto and an Executive Leadership diploma from Queen’s University, Sam is a values-based, transformational leader with over 13 years of senior executive experience in service delivery modernization, public-private partnerships, and relationship management. Sam has proven capabilities in defining a strategic vision and developing a road map for results.
Sam’s extensive expertise ranges topics such as Values-Based Leadership, Justice and Healthcare sector modernization, Transportation, Employee and Customer Engagement; Inclusion, Diversity, and Anti-Racism.
Sam held various executive positions in the government of Ontario, including as Deputy Solicitor General and Deputy Minister of the Anti-Racism Directorate. Prior to this, he also served as:
- Associate Deputy Minister, The Cabinet Office (established Ontario’s Anti-Racism Directorate)
- Assistant Deputy Minister, Treasury Board Secretariat (developed and implemented Ontario’s Open Government strategy, enhanced Agency Governance, and Oversight)
- Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Government Services and ServiceOntario (deployed one-window gateway to government services, enhancing the service experience of 16 million Ontarians).
After a 20-year career in the public sector, Sam joined the private sector as Head and Executive Vice President at Connexall Inc., where he developed a strong executive team and enhanced Connexall’s value proposition in the global clinical software healthcare market.
Ian Mack
Rear-Admiral Ian Mack (Retd) is a senior advisor to SRS with 38 years of experience in the Royal Canadian Navy. On retirement and as a Public Servant, he then spent a decade with a procurement portfolio of complex projects including naval ships and vehicles (armoured and logistics). In this period, he was intimately involved in shaping and implementing Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, launched in 2008. He also guided the project managers assigned to design and build six Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships, two large Joint Support Ships and the Canadian Surface Combatant warships, all now in various stages of progression.
Nikki Gillingham
Nikki gained valuable experience in change management, stakeholder and employee engagement, content marketing strategy and development, and social media management from a career that began with working for public and private sector entities of all sizes. Nikki is an excellent writer and communicator, having written speeches for then-Minister of Defence Peter MacKay and other MPs, as well as corporate executives and company Presidents.
Since Founding Blue Whale Communications in 2017, Nikki has worked with more than 30 organizations, providing them with expert marketing and communications advice and services.
Her past experience has taught her how to connect with stakeholders, build relationships and trust, and understand their needs, allowing her to provide strategic advice and exceptional consulting services. She produces strategies that deliver on clients’ needs with measurable results.
Helen Burgan
Helen has over twenty years of public service experience as an HR strategy and policy leader, four of which were spent at Transport Canada, where she led a learning and development transformation initiative. After successfully completing an EMBA, Helen is using newly acquired skills in her program and policy analysis role at Agriculture Canada. Her work has centered on supporting her organization’s contribution to the Indo-Pacific Strategy and contributing to improved, more inclusive business development programming that aligns with key government priorities. Highlights of Helen’s skills and experience are outlined below:
- Effective communicator, mentor and collaborator, with extensive experience in building win-win outcomes by understanding others’ needs and leveraging interest-based negotiation and mediation training.
- Experience in applying business analysis tools such as: Diamond E Framework, Porter’s Five Forces, Driving Forces, and PESTLE to measure our Ottawa high-tech client’s readiness to expand into the Malaysian SD-WAN and UC market; and developing joint venture criteria and company prospect profiling tools- all contributing to our client securing nine requests for partnership agreements.
- Two decades’ experience in improving organizational performance in the areas of: HR planning and performance measurement; learning strategies and policies; governance; workplace well-being; knowledge transfer strategy; and change management initiatives.
- In-depth experience leading federal government interdepartmental committees and conducting consultations and stakeholder engagement with central agencies, clients, academics, industry, unions, and other federal Departments.
- Experienced in conducting Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) to better understand inequities/barriers in agriculture programs and advise on more inclusive programming.
Bruce Lewis
Bruce Lewis has extensive experience in leading organizations collaboratively and productively as an RCAF Officer, Director in the Public Service, and Liaison Officer in the industry. As an Air Navigator, he has flown on the Argus, Sea King, and Aurora aircraft including 8 years conducting and supporting operational testing of new equipment.
He commanded the Helicopter Operational Test and Evaluation facility during the first Gulf War and 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron in the mid-90s; and served as the Aurora Project Manager for 20 years responsible for the Aurora Incremental Moderation Project (AIMP).
As effectively the prime contractor, Bruce developed innovative collaboration methods to successfully coordinate and execute some 21 increments of AIMP with associated multiple contracts executed in parallel.
In the final aircraft implementation block, he adapted and implemented SRS’ proven technology to improve collaboration across his team and industry to develop technology more effectively.
Mario Lagrange
Mario Lagrange has over 39 years combined experience as a Canadian Forces Aerospace Engineer as well as an Executive in the Department of National Defence. Relying on his extensive aerospace engineering and defence procurement knowledge, he now provides strategic advice, counsel, project management, organizational relationship, material acquisition and sustainment expertise to clients.
Mario was seconded to the Canadian Space Agency in April 1999 where he managed the development of experimental space science systems for the International Space Station. Later in his career he would be assigned to the Directorate Joint Capability Production (Space) where he was responsible for requirement definition of all Space-based capabilities for the Canadian Armed Forces.
Ghassan Akrouche
Ghassan Akrouche is an SRS Senior Procurement and Global Supply Chain Management Advisor with broad executive, managerial, and technical skills garnered through 30+ years of business consulting experience to Government and Private sector.
Since June 2001, Ghassan has been a Partner with Strategic Relationships Solutions Inc., providing procurement solutions and best practice collaboration advisory services to Public Sector clients. Ghassan brings to each engagement a cohesive and collaborative approach founded on factual understanding of engagement objectives; architecting the optimum strategy to achieving them; facilitating executive management’s sponsorship, support and commitment; and applying sound engagement delivery management principles.
Ghassan has led complex supply chain management projects as well as the establishment of strategic Supply Arrangements, Standing Offers, multi-vendor contracts, and contracts for a vast range of needs from Hardware, COTS Software solutions, professional services for executive, strategic and general IT.
Barbara Odenwald
Barbara is a passionate communications specialist and leadership consultant/coach with over 22 years’ experience successfully building organizational capacity and facilitating professional/executive development. Her clients span the corporate, not-for-profit and public sectors. She works collaboratively with clients to identify needs at the leadership or team level, and to customize and deliver tools and content based on sound assessments and clear goal-setting.
With a passion for innovation, change management, effective collaboration and problem-solving, she helps people and organizations excel as life-long learners, innovators, sustainable learning organizations, and leaders in their industry. Barbara holds two degrees and certificates in her field from UBC and MIT, and is a Conversational Intelligence coach.
Eric Bloom
Eric is Relational Contracting Training Instructor. Industry thought leaders and leading practitioner in collaboration, complex projects delivery and relationships management.
- Founder and Executive Director of the IT Management and Leadership Institute
- Founder and president of OfficeInfluence.com
- Amazon #1 bestselling author of the book “Productivity Driven Success: Hidden Secrets of Organizational Efficiency”
- Author of the books “Office Influence: Get What You Want from the Mailroom to the Boardroom” and “Manager Mechanics: Tips and Advice for First Time Managers”
- Former nationally syndicated columnist, CIO.com contributor, ITworld.com contributor
- Certified Professional Coach
- Certified Professional Speaker (CSP) and Virtual Certified Speaker (VCS)
- Past President of National Speakers Association (NSA) New England
- IDC Research Advisor
- He is also a recognized thought leader on how to maximize the value of technical skill and knowledge though enhanced interpersonal communication, emotional intelligence, and influence.
Andy Akrouche – Managing Director
Andy Akrouche is the founding partner of Strategic Relationships Solutions Inc. (SRS), a knowledge-based relationship management firm.
While serving as Vice President of Outsourcing Management Services at Digital Equipment Corporation, and citing the failures of many complex business arrangements, Andy founded SRS to revolutionize the framework within which strategic business relationships are sourced, structured, and managed.
Andy is acknowledged as the industry leader in developing and managing adaptive, dynamic Public-Private and Public-Public relationships.
Andy and his team help organizations develop and implement high-performing relationships by moving business arrangements from fundamentally static transactions or deals to adaptive and highly collaborative relationships based on flexibility, agility, and ongoing stakeholder collaboration.
The Relationship-based Model has proven its effectiveness in many high-profile business arrangements in several sectors including the Transportation, Health, and Defense industries.
Aisha Ghadban – Senior Coordinator
Aisha is a senior training and workshop coordinator at the Centre for Collaborative Stakeholder Relationships responsible for the planning, project management, coordination, and delivery-related activities for a portfolio of relationship management, relational contracting, and collaborative working programs. Aisha, with effective communication and project management skills, ensures that the training program, learning methods, and overall attendees’ experience exceed expectation.
Aisha’s work experience includes the following:
- Coordinated the production of course material and the delivery of a series of Relationship Management courses for several clients including Boarder Services, Shared Services Canada, Treasury Board of Ontario, and the Government of Canada;
- Coordinated the delivery of Relational Contracting courses for the University of Ottawa Relational Contracting Management Certificate program;
- Planned and coordinated the delivery of facilitated convergence workshops for many organizations including National Defence, Ontario Lottery Corporation, IMP Aerospace, L3 ESS and General Dynamics among others.
SRS Methodology
The high rate of project failures is a solid indicator and proof that the currently practiced models of risk analysis and value-for-money accounting have not delivered the expected results. In most cases, those failed expectations result from long-term, multi-stakeholder agreements, which are structured and managed as static deals or transactions that do not adapt well to change and evolution and do not support creating a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
We bring a new approach and systematic model for managing uncertainty and achieving optimum outcomes in complex Projects, Outsourcing, ASD initiatives, and public-private partnerships. Our methodology was first developed in 2003 to address the shortcomings of the traditional models. Our method, born out of extensive successful experience in outsourcing and partnerships while at the Digital Operations Management Business unit, evolved and was refined over time through many more successful public and private sector engagements. Our methodology is described in the book “Relationships First, The New Relationship Paradigm in Contracting” by Andy Akrouche, third edition 2017.
Strategic Relationships Solutions Inc. (SRS)
Our team brings a fresh new perspective and a proven methodology for achieving better outcomes at lower risk in complex scenarios. Our team represents a unique combination of senior executives and practitioners with decades of hands-on experience in the public and private sectors. We work with our clients to discover problems in new ways and design and implement solutions that deliver superior sustainable value to all stakeholders.