Transformation Architecture

Transformation Architecture
Special Operations:
Partnerships / Mergers & Acquisitions

The Challenge
Business partnerships are a driver to accomplish better outcomes than any group acting alone could achieve. But
not every partnership is the right one and some which have the strongest potential fail because of a lack of mutual
understanding between the partnering organizations.

What do partnering organizations need to do to ensure a successful partnership where each party’s expectations are met?

Transformation Architecture has been used extensively to create and put into action strong partnerships for medium-
sized and enterprise-level organizations. Our refined process can shorten partnership deliberations from weeks to
days. It involves a one-day workshop to outline and validate the business case, followed by a two-day event to
conclude the deal. It succeeds every time.

Breakthrough Thinking | Collaborative Transformation | Outcome Realization

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Our Solution
Phase I – Partnership Discovery
As a first phase, the Transformation Architecture team will lead a core group of representatives from each
organization interested in forming the partnership (4-6 from each) through the course of a half-day Partnership
Discovery session, which will quickly outline the true value of a partnership to each side. Building on this value
proposition, the executive teams will be lead through a rigorous analysis of potential opportunities, and will develop
a list of possible partnering activities, both previously known and unknown. Based on an analysis of value and
achievability, the executive teams would decide two things:

1) Is there real benefit in partnering (either on an ongoing or one-off basis)?

2) What is the first, most achievable, most valuable action to demonstrate commitment to the partnership,
and value from it?

Presuming the decision is to partner, the executive teams will determine action plans to address question “2)” stated
above.

Through working with the group to define the “Ideal Final Result” in entering into a partnership, an intention
question for the second collaborative event will be tailored. The question will outline the intention that will meet the
highest needs of all the stakeholder groups who will be affected by the proposed partnership.

The primary purpose of a Phase I engagement is to create a level of clarity that was previously unavailable, despite
any worthwhile attempts. The outcome at the end of this day will be a clear understanding of what needs to be the
key elements and focus of the strategy for moving ahead in a new direction.

Phase II – Collaborative Transformation

As a second phase, the Transformation Architecture team will coordinate a one to two day Collaborative event with
key participants. Each organization will be given the opportunity to provide a list of key stakeholders to be involved
in the session. Collaborative events can accommodate from a dozen to hundreds of individuals. During this event,
the key stakeholders will engage in discussion and action planning activities.

The primary purpose of a Phase II engagement is the broad stakeholder consultation in a highly collaborative, open
atmosphere, using a process that allows unknowns to become known. A Phase II engagement builds upon the
Phase I work, and creates an atmosphere where the client teams can come together and come to a profound level
of understanding and mutual trust. If a client has a generally supportive end-user environment that really just needs
an opportunity to talk, and to come to agreement, a single day Collaborative Transformation event often suffices. In
either of the following cases, two days are required:

1) The end user community is divided, and there are “issues” (political or otherwise) between groups, or
2) The sponsor wants the entire system to author the “way forward” with specific action items, with leadership,
milestones and deliverables in place to allow that system to deliver fully on the intention set out that
brought the community together for Phase II.

By the end of Phase II, the stakeholder community will have arrived at the best possible answer to the intention that
guided the event, and there will be a high level of stakeholder commitment to the key Action Items on the path
toward the solution of a successful partnership.

Breakthrough Thinking | Collaborative Transformation | Outcome Realization

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Your Outcome
The Transformation Architecture process has been used extensively to design and action strong partnerships
between enterprise level organizations as well as mid-tier business. This well refined process is capable of
shortening the partnership deliberations & planning time from weeks to days.

Outcomes:
x Specific answers to why a partnership should or should not proceed
x Clear understanding of the short-term opportunities made possible by partnership
x What each partner will need to contribute to and can expect to receive from the partnership
x Tangible commitment of the participants based on a shared common understanding
x The accountability matrix and governance needed to sustain the partnership for its intended lifespan.

Breakthrough Thinking | Collaborative Transformation | Outcome Realization

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Successes
The following is a list of previous relevant events carried out by the xwave Transformation Architecture team:

Industry Canada Online Business Licenses and Permits

All ten provinces , one territory, seven federal departments and six municipalities agreed on vision, governance,
initial project plan, business case fundamentals and funding model

Client Testimonial: “We achieved more during these few days then we could have in months or years of
conventional project management, if at all.”

TeleHealth Strategic Initiatives/Tactical Partnerships

Partnerships defined and put in place. New strategic initiatives identified. Technical issues clarified. Critical
Success Factors clarified and new options defined and agreed upon.

Client Testimonial: “We uncovered the one critical success factor that we had completely missed but that
is more important than anything else we had been addressing.”

Membertou / Aliant Commercial Partnership First Nations

Innovative partnership model discovered and initiated in one day.

Client Testimonial: “This is the first time the First Nations people have been treated with such integrity by
a European company.”

Aliant Strategic Partnerships

Strategic business partnerships with several public and private sector enterprises actioned with agreements in
place and joint business initiatives underway immediately.

Client Testimonial: “I am often a part of these types of partnership negotiations. I have never seen
anything else that achieves this depth of practicality and that moves with committed
action in such a short time.”

Breakthrough Thinking | Collaborative Transformation | Outcome Realization

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