When I read that two automotive giants, Toyota and Mazda, are looking to collaborate by sharing their technologies, I thought that it pretty much reflected business norm. But then I reminded myself that in reality collaboration between competitors on such a deep level is not a simple process. In fact it is often an excuse, albeit a poor one, for not making a real effort in collaboration. The term collaboration carries a soft, lovely, warm and fuzzy connotation. People like ‘working together’. A slight problem arises when we quickly learn that collaboration is fundamentally a demanding strategy. However, while it can be demanding work, in the end it does pay dividends. This week’s selection of reading may help collaborators to gain more confidence by learning how others do it.
Sincere thanks to those who have suggested articles for this edition of Roadmender Recommends.
7 Tips for Effective Project Collaboration
Clear organization is essential to effective team collaboration. Projects have many moving parts, from timelines to checklists, notes, files, and proposals. A centralized location to projects gives everyone access to current information and the ability to track deliverables and deadlines…READ ON
Why Collaboration Is Essential to Entrepreneurship – Entrepreneur
Aspen Institute’s Aspen Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy Group included collaboration as one of the elements of the entrepreneurial mindset, that “critical mix of success-oriented attitudes of initiative, intelligent risk-taking, collaboration and…READ ON
Psychology Helps In Cross-cultural Collaboration
How does Psychology help In Cross-Cultural Collaboration? The program faculty of the Business Psychology Department at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) is uniquely comprised of business and psychology professionals. By design, the faculty crosses disciplines and is diverse in education and experience. They represent areas essential to the conceptualisation of business psychology…READ ON
What is the True Entrepreneur’s ‘Difference’? To Find Out, Ask Yourself These 3 Questions.
My former business partner, Sheldon Adelson, is the epitome of the American success story. The son of a Boston cab driver, he early on decided that his best option was to skip college and instead hone his skills by starting a business. Along the way, he never stopped learning and dreaming — and pushing against conventional wisdom. Perhaps that’s why Adelson succeeded as one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time…READ ON
Less Meetings – More Collaboration
Let’s book a meeting. Let’s talk about it on the conference call. Let’s reconvene at next week’s meeting. Let’s discuss the next time we have a team call. Here’s a thought, let’s figure out why we have so many meetings and calls in the first place…READ ON
Toyota, Mazda Consider Sharing Fuel-Efficient Technologies
A Toyota Motor Corp. employee checks vehicles at the company’s showroom in Tokyo. Toyota and Mazda Motor Corp. are considering sharing fuel-efficient technologies. Photo: Yoshikazu Tsuno/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
Toyota Motor Corp. and Mazda Motor Corp. are in talks to share certain technologies, a person knowledgeable about the matter said Sunday, as some auto makers turn to tie-ups with rivals to reduce mounting costs of developing fuel-efficient cars. Under consideration is a deal in which Toyota would offer its plug-in hybrid and fuel cell technologies to Mazda. In return, Mazda would provide its fuel-efficient gas and diesel engine technologies to Toyota, said the person who spoke on the condition of anonymity…READ ON
Categories: Uncategorized
ROADMENDER 
