With the imminent publication of the world's first collaborative relationship standard - BS 11000 - business collaboration specialist David Hawkins comments, "Venturing into the world of collaboration can be one of the most exhilarating aspects of business. It offers opportunity and risk at the same time as opening up the flow of knowledge and experience between individuals and organisations.

"Yet, it is also an environment that can introduce uncertainty and fear of change for those involved", he adds.

The publication of BS 11000 - scheduled for October 2010 - is a landmark for the world of business. It does not represent a one-size solution but rather provides a consistent framework that can be scaled and adapted to meet particular business needs.

The structure of the framework is drawn from methodologies supported by a wide range of tools and guides that have been established over some twenty years of involvement in relationship management.

In Hawkins' view, based on many years of drafting and implementing business-partnering and collaborative initiatives, collaboration can significantly change the dynamics of organisations and, as such, introduces stress and anxiety at an individual level. Executives may be clear in their minds why they should embrace collaborative approaches, but the strategy may not be apparent to those charged with its implementation or, worse, those who find their roles changing.

Organisations comprise people who can be categorised as

• the 'comfort zone' type - where change of any kind disrupts their stability.
• the 'passive type' - who are willing to follow but look for clearly defined rules and boundaries.
• the 'progressive type' - who embrace change but recognise their need to understand how to move forward.
• the 'visionaries' - who are frustrated by a lack of change.

"Each of these groups will look at the introduction of collaboration from completely different perspectives", Hawkins points out. "The less confident will push to have all the answers laid out before them, and this can create a significant tension."

BS 11000 provides a framework against which organisations and individuals can understand the issues that will influence the journey and allow lifecycle planning from concept to closure.