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Glossary of Strategic Relations Terms in Business

A collection of terms as they pertain to Strategic Relations in Business, fully annotated with examples.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

alitum (v.)

Swift, quick and winged,
To develop, support and nourish, allow to grow,

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C

competitive action

A purposeful event designed to overcome the advantages of another company, or to advance your company over another.
The act of specific attack to another company's weakness in a market place, as it will improve your own position, or present your product in a more viable light.
Specific event designed to overcome a competitor.
A competitive action can be for or against your company. The key is to identify the action taken as it pertains to a certain event, from the event then identify the goals and objectives of the parties involved. From this point your plan to counter, avoid, ignore, confront, or adjust is put into action.

conlegium

Group of people bound together by common rules or laws,
Associated in common undertaking,

customer (n.)

One that buys goods or services.
One whose desires are fulfilled in monetary exchange.
Internally: An individual who is served by another individual with a specific series of tasks or desired outcome.

customer interaction point (n.)

A moment where a product or service may be used, seen, or considered by someone qualified to purchase it.
An opportunity to educate or engage in commerce with a customer. Usually defined by a series of measurable characteristics or conditions, which contribute to and result from the action taken.
Customer interaction points (pl.) a series of points arranged in a logical sequence representing a process, which customers may engage sequentially, or as certain conditions demand.

A simple series of customer interaction points are represented by pre-sale marketing, point of sale, and post-sales service; where the customer learns about a product, engages in a purchase of the product, then receives related services for implementation.

Each point is defined by the needs of the customer, the characteristics of the product or service, and follows on products provided after the sale. Ideally, contributing factors could be measured to predict when other customers will engage the any point along the series.

I

interaction (n.)

The act or process of interacting.
The state of undergoing interaction.

Mutual or reciprocal action or influence; as, the interaction of an individual and a product on each other.

internal (adj.)

Existing or situated within the limits or surface of something: as;
1. 1. Situated near the inside of a body (groups supporting direct customer interactions),
  2. Situated on the side towards the median plane of a body (partner supporting overhead related processes),
2. of, relating to, or occurring within the confines of an organized structure,
Related or belonging to or existing within the management process,
Source: Merriam-Webster® Dictionary

internal partnership (n.)

An relationship that requires cooperation between two or more parties to which a customer may or may not be involved,
Any relationship between leadership, managers, teams, or employees with a common purpose to achieve business objectives and serve customer needs.

Internal partnerships contribute to stability inside your company, it reinforces the availability of resources, reduces friction, and contributes to a customers experience, but isn't directly seen by a customer. Don't confuse internal partnerships with teams, because they can move beyond the boundaries of your company, across teams, and can be a collection of individuals.

For example, your product quality team can create an internal partnership with a few frontline integrators to investigate new process for product installation. This guidance relationship introduces the new techniques, while the product quality team measures improvements in quality outside of the internal partnership.

iunctura

A joining, joint/relationship, combination

iunctura alitum conlegium

Bringing together of like-minded individuals to support a common undertaking bound by established rule,
Collaboration of individuals where a group following by common rules accomplishes mutual objectives in swift manner,
Methods of interating that promote mutual objectives of a group bound by common interests,

L

living document (n.)

A state based publication refined and improved over time under single topic or scope.
A suitable revision or presentation of information which the reader knows will change over time, but provided in a complete package to be useable in its current state.
Of a nature of change, increasing in complexity or comprehensiveness in a specific topic area or subject.
Traditional publishing required changes or modifications to content presented in subsequent editions, online documents are enhanced in a manner producing more frequent versions. Documents of this nature become collections of information, indexed and interwoven like an ecosystem.

A website is an example of a living document, this includes specifically SGML and database driven documents, but can include static sites. The factor of definition is more how the material is presented than the technology behind the presentation. In a living document a topic is covered more completely over time, materials are reindexed, and most often the entire content base is searchable. Various mini-sites and educational tutorials are living documents as they represent a collection of materials organized into a single package with a singluar subject and purpose.

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M

management (n.)

The act, manner, or practice of managing; handling, supervision, or control: management of a crisis; management of front line workers.
The person or persons who control or direct a business or other enterprise.
Skill in managing; executive ability.

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P

partnership (n.)

Involving close cooperation between parties having specified and joint rights and responsibilities.
Two or more groups joined together by mutal agreement for a specific desired result.

point (n.)

A specified degree, condition, or limit, as in a scale or course: point of sale.
An objective or purpose to be reached or achieved, or one that is worth reaching or achieving.
A single unit, as in counting, rating, or measuring.

profitability strategy

A series of specific actions taken to improve influencing factors that change profits certain period. These actions take into consideration "future market demands," cost of goods, and other contributing elements that could change the cost per transaction.

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R

rapport (n.)

A relation, especially one characterized by sympathetic understanding, emotional affinity, or mutual trust,
Relationship, especially one of mutual trust or emotional affinity,

Rapport comes from French, from Old French, from raporter, "to bring back," from re-, "back, again" (from Latin) + aporter, "to bring" (from Latin apportare, from ad-, "to" + portare, "to carry"); see per- in Indo-European Roots.

relation (n.)

A logical or natural association between two or more things; relevance of one to another; connection: the relation between income and stock price.
The connection of people by blood or marriage; kinship.
A person connected to another by blood or marriage; a relative.
The way in which one person or thing is connected with another: the relation of manager to employee.
Relations : The mutual dealings or connections of persons, groups, or nations in social, business, or diplomatic matters: international relations.
Law. The principle whereby an act done at a later date is considered to have been done on a prior date.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition; © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

relationship (n.)

The condition or fact of being related; connection or association.
A particular type of connection existing between people related to or having dealings with each other: has a close relationship with his siblings.

I frequently use the word relationship to describe the connection between machines, humans, and systems inside an organization. While this can be confusing, some people see how machines can replace systems (by automating processes) and people can use machines (for implementation). In the same terminology, these different components can be linked together to create new relationships with different characteristics. This object-oriented model leaves some parts of a relationship interchangeable for different purposes; while the components are the same, its characteristics change according to context.

An example would be a CEO who is a peer member of an executive team, but when speaking to the entire organization provides more of leadership role. The way the CEO relates to the groups must fit the groups to which they are communicating at that time. It would not be appropriate to use the same language for both situations, while the message could be the same.

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S

strategic (adj.)

Of or relating to strategy.

Important or essential in relation to a plan of action: a strategic withdrawal.
Essential to the effective conduct of war: strategic materials.
Highly important to an intended objective: The staff discussed strategic marketing factors.

Intended to destroy the military potential of an enemy: strategic bombing.

strategic relations

The mutual dealing or connections or communications among persons or groups in a manner important or essential to a plan of action.
Arranging logical associations of resources to position a person or group closer to an intended objective: strategic partnership between two or more parties to improve product distribution.
Arranging products and services to eliminate competitors while improving value to your intended market

Strategic relations in business consists of business development, management strategies, and relationship management methods.

strategy (n.) strategies (pl.)

The science and art of using all the resources of an organization to execute approved plans as effective as possible,
The science and art of business management as applied to the overall planning and conduct of large-scale operations,

A plan of action resulting from strategy or intended to accomplish a specific objective.
The art or skill of using stratagems in endeavors such as business, marketing, or sales.