The Partnership Charter : How To Start Out Right With Your New Business Partnership (or Fix The One You're In)

In The Partnership Charter, psychologist and business mediation expert David Gage offers a comprehensive guide to the art of establishing and maintaining a business partnership. The centerpiece of his approach is the Partnership Charter, a document that clearly outlines the goals, expectations, responsibilities, and relationships of the principals. The charter identifies potential sources of conflict and how they will be resolved, while addressing such sensitive issues as personal styles, values, money, and power. Illustrating every principle through engaging stories drawn from Gage's front-line experience consulting to business partners, as well as interviews with the founding partners of such successful businesses as Progressive Insurance Company and Manpower, Inc., The Partnership Charter dispels common myths and presents a practical framework for launching, building, and sustaining a thriving business partnership.;PREFACE; PART ONE PARTNER FUNDAMENTALS; CHAPTER 1 The Rewards (and Risks) of Going into Business Together; CHAPTER 2 Starting down the Right Path: A Partnership Charter; PART TWO IT'S JUST BUSINESS; CHAPTER 3 Partners' Vision and Strategic Direction; CHAPTER 4 Pieces of the Pie: Ownership Issues; CHAPTER 5 Roles and Titles, Power and Status; CHAPTER 6 Money: Taking It Out, and Sharing It; CHAPTER 7 Governance; PART THREE THE INTIMATE SIDE OF BEING PARTNERS; CHAPTER 8 Personal Styles and Working Together; CHAPTER 9 Partners' Personal Values; CHAPTER 10 Is It Fair?

For the 30 million business partners and co-owners, the essential guide for building, launching, and sustaining successful ventures

Publishers Weekly

Gage, a professor at the Kogod School of Business at American University, believes that business partners should have an operating charter in addition to a partnership agreement. This operating charter, while not legally binding, is a strategic way for partners to have a serious, ongoing discussion about how they plan to run their business, deal with work issues and people, and spell out their expectations. The actual charter is far less important than the conversations leading up to its drafting. Gage discusses the four key questions that should be considered when deciding to form a partnership. While some people can explain why they want to own a business and why they want to have a partner, two questions-are there better alternatives than choosing a partner and is the person you're choosing the best partner-are more difficult to answer. Using a variety of examples, Gage shows how business people sometimes choose partners instead of finding outside financing or hiring a consultant. This is a clear and helpful book, best for people who are considering setting up a partnership. Readers who are already in partnerships, however, may find Gage's advice useful but harder to implement. Overall, this book is a solid addition to the business guide category. (Aug.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

"The Partnership Charter is a comprehensive guide to creating and sustaining successful business and professional partnerships. It makes the job of being partners - in any type of partnership in any industry - a lot easier and more rewarding." "The centerpiece of Gage's approach is the Partnership Charter, a document that thoroughly addresses both the business and personal sides that exist in every closely held business. The charter clearly outlines the goals, expectations, responsibilities, and relationships of the principals and helps them address such sensitive issues as personal styles and values, money, ownership, and power. Potential sources of conflict are identified, and suggested resolutions are discussed. The book is illustrated with engaging stories drawn from Gage's frontline experience mediating partner disputes. There are also interviews with partners like Ben and Jerry, Wolfgang Puck and Barbara Lazaroff, and the co-founders of such successful businesses as EMC, and OfficeMax. The Partnership Charter dispels common myths and presents a practical framework for launching, building, and sustaining a thriving business partnership."--Jacket "The centerpiece of Gage's approach is the Partnership Charter, a document that thoroughly addresses both the business and personal sides that exist in every closely held business. The charter clearly outlines the goals, expectations, responsibilities, and relationships of the principals and helps them address such sensitive issues as personal styles and values, money, ownership, and power. Potential sources of conflict are identified, and suggested resolutions are discussed. The book is illustrated with engaging stories drawn from Gage's frontline experience mediating partner disputes. There are also interviews with partners like Ben and Jerry, Wolfgang Puck and Barbara Lazaroff, and the co-founders of such successful businesses as EMC, and OfficeMax. The Partnership Charter dispels common myths and presents a practical framework for launching, building, and sustaining a thriving business partnership."--BOOK JACKET PREFACE PART ONE PARTNER FUNDAMENTALS CHAPTER 1 The Rewards (and Risks) of Going into Business Together CHAPTER 2 Starting down the Right Path: A Partnership Charter PART TWO IT'S JUST BUSINESS CHAPTER 3 Partners' Vision and Strategic Direction CHAPTER 4 Pieces of the Pie: Ownership Issues CHAPTER 5 Roles and Titles, Power and Status CHAPTER 6 Money: Taking It Out, and Sharing It CHAPTER 7 Governance PART THREE THE INTIMATE SIDE OF BEING PARTNERS CHAPTER 8 Personal Styles and Working Together CHAPTER 9 Partners' Personal Values CHAPTER 10 Is It Fair? CHAPTER 11 Getting What You Wish For: The Power of ExpectationsPART FOUR THE FUTURE IS SOONER THAN YOU THINK CHAPTER 12 Just Suppose: Scenario Planning for Partners CHAPTER 13 Essentials of Resolving Conflict APPENDIX: STAR SYSTEMS' PARTNERSHIP CHARTER NOTES ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INDEX. This is a top-notch book - nicely written, smartly organized, and easy to follow and understand. It provides insightful information, telling case histories, useful checklists and exercises, and even includes a fully developed "Partnership Charter" in the appendix. Author David Gage offers an inside view of partnerships, and his case studies make the text a pleasure to read. More importantly, he shows you how to create a partnership charter that will function as your enterprise's Magna Carta in the years to come. If you are planning a partnership, getAbstract advises you to study this expert presentation first. You will save yourself a lot of trouble "PARTNERSHIP" IS A SEDUCTIVE buzzword in the business world today.