Navigating the Partnership Maze: Creating Alliances That Work

By Sarah Gerdes

Nationally-recognized partnership expert Sarah Gerdes has developed a unique approach to creating business partnerships that work. Called AllianceMapping, her approach has been adopted by IBM,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0071398236
• ISBN13: 9780071398237
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.1" x 0.9" x 6.2"

Customer Reviews

Perfect timing

This book came out at just the right time for me. Recently laid off, I've had to look at other creative ways to earn a living using my experience in the retail products market. This book has the best examples of people who also started in one career and are now in something entirely different. I'd never heard of a facilities partnership (to get rent for free), or that a land partnership with municipal governments was possible (to share (to get land for free or on good terms) or even considered partnering with local coffee shops for a marketing partnership (to get free branding and distribution). Each of these examples are carried throughout the book so I could follow the process. Most importantly for me, none of the individuals creating the partnership had any previous experience. That alone gave me the confidence I need to start my own venture,and have success with something as intimidating sounding as a partnership.

Substance, not Hype

I too am an MBA and work in corporate marketing as a director of partnerships for a Fortune 2000 company. I've actually had the experiences Ms. Gerdes describes of leaving tens of messages, getting the run around and being told I don't have the right business case for a partnership. I've also used some of the tips she describes, and can say they work. Anyone who hasn't had these experiences and knocks the book obviously hasn't had to create an actual partnership. Anyone who has been in the trenches like Ms. Gerdes knows that this is nothing more than reality. She says "partnerships aren't sexy" and she's right. They are plain old hard work, and anyone who says anything different is naive. This book is the only one on the market with specific how-to's. Forget academic books on philosophy. Get real substance without the hype from this book. A must read and a must recommend to anyone creating REAL alliances

Insightful

I thought the book was perfect at delivering a message in an easy to understand way, but still including the detail and substance to make it valuable. A great way to derive knowledge from someone who has been through the many partnership scenarios before, preparing you for the road ahead.

Keep It Simple and Straightforward

A first class, objective and fresh look at simplifying strategic alliances. Ms. Gerdes has brought it all together in easily understandable terms with outstanding examples that can be adapted to any business in any industry. Superbly written and based on first-hand experience, this will clearly become "the authoritative piece" on creating successful partnerships.

Alliance Development Clarified for Novices and Veterans!

Alliance development can be accomplished seat of the pants in a strong economy, but when the difficult times hit, they will probably fall apart. This is a book that can help anyone looking to forge strong alliances today and manage them through the storm of internal and external factors that might threaten your hard work. Sarah has the practical experience and techniques to bring new ideas to a veteran while clarifying what to do next for the novice. The case stories are relevant to the context, crossing all types of partnerships and applicable for any type of business. An important read for anyone considering construction or development of strategic alliances.