Partnership Management in Project Based Companies – the case of Iranian OGP Industry

Abstract: In recent years it has become important to know exactly what makes partnering, more successful in different conditions. This research focuses on success factors of partnering in a project based organization (PBO). Our research question is that what major elements (called enablers) make and shape success of partnerships? Three sub questions have also been studied: 1. What sub elements have a major effect on partnership success? 2. How such sub elements can be clustered logically into major elements? 3. How such elements and clusters can be weighted and measured so that a measurement tool can be constructed based on the model. Results show that 1. Such certain partnering success enablers do exist. We found 30 enablers as major factors affecting performance of partnership. 2. They can be classified into strategic, program-level and project-level enablers, the latter being divided into forming, leading, supporting and controlling sections. 3. Enablers can be weighted based on results of our research to form an assessment model. We have test run the model for checking applicability and reliability. Executive implications of the results as a model based on the enablers can be before forming partnerships or in the process. The former, helps with strategic decision making about partner selection and formulating mode of cooperation. The latter can be for improving a current partnership the evaluation model developed based on results follows this grouping. The model has been test run for testing applicability and reliability. For further study, we can study enablers of success in hierarchical manner for all functions or for all stakeholders. Scholars can review some other aspects like leaders and stockholders, customers, employers, suppliers, creditors, society and government. Our last word would be suggesting adoption of this model for application in industry sectors other than OGP and regions other than Middle East.