Collaboration between people is what makes your projects succeed. Or Fail.
How do you establish and maintain this collaboration?
WHAT IS MANAGED COLLABORATION (MCO)?
- MCO is the management system enabling the purposeful and structured management of collaborative relationships in B2B projects.
- MCO is to improve the odds of success for clients and suppliers in developing high-value solutions.
- MCO proceeds from whole system strategies, to realize optimally integrated solutions.
- MCO is about learning how to respect and communicate between participants.
- MCO meetings have energy and create high-quality communication.
- MCO is about creating a team focused on the same objectives and unleashing trust between stakeholders.
- MCO is a framework for planning and making informed decisions.
- MCO is the ethical and sustainable way of doing business in projects.
The Managed Collaboration (MCO) Approach
MCO draws on the knowledge and expertise of multiple professional disciplines, such as Project Management, Systems Engineering, Value Management, Collaborative Business Relationship Management.
These disciplines are widely recognized and used as standards, each in their specific field of application.
Managed Collaboration is founded on five key elements known as the “Commons” of collaboration in Projects:
- The Common Structure
- The Common Activities
- The Common Values
- The Common Objectives
- The Common Governance
Successful collaborations are built upon these 5 “Commons”: they are the five principles, or “keys”, enabling to open up, steer, drive, and maintain Collaboration and to achieve success in Projects.

By embracing these five “Commons” of collaboration, stakeholders can foster a collaborative environment that promotes cooperation, maximizes synergies, and leads to successful project outcomes.
Managed Collaboration is of interest to organizations and their professionals involved in B2B Projects and Solutions, such as Executives, Sales, Procurement, Project Management, Technicians.

MANIFESTO FOR A BETTER WAY
MANAGED COLLABORATION | OVER | THE USUAL WAY | |
---|---|---|---|
I | Integrity | OVER | Hidden agendas |
II | A joint-development of the solution | OVER | Silo-based |
III | A whole-system approach to the solution | OVER | Fragmented, piecemeal approach |
IV | A rational decision-making process | OVER | Myopic, emotional decision-making |
V | A common collaborative mindset | OVER | Self-interest |
VI | Superior communication | OVER | Fear and defensiveness |
VII | Creating a best value solution | OVER | Lowest price |
VIII | Having a great experience together | OVER | Short-lived, low-quality relationships |