Mood Swings

This has naught to do with the antics of Chick-Fil-A's milk cows posing as candidates for hamburger. Nor is it a desperate attempt to score some good pharmaceuticals from my very ethical primary care physician. Although, if he could see his way clear to . . . never mind.

Rather, it relates to my state of mind in contemplating where we are, in the collective, in pursuing the benfits of collaboration within the supply chain. I move quickly from depression to terror, then back again. In the abstract, we (or most of us) know that collaboration with partners spells, not necessarily succcess, but mere survival as the 21st century rolls on.

But, we're not very good at it, yet, in the main. Later today, I'm meeting with a (national) governmental agency that has set up a specific organizational component to manage supplier relationships, with serious emphasis on collaboration, communications, joint problem-solving, and other sensible actions for mutual benefit. They do have stringent rules in transparency to abide by in the procurement process. but, once engaged, they behave like grown-ups.

Here's the core question. If the Federal government gets it, what's holdoing the rest of us back? What will it take to tip everyday, real-world private sector enterprises into acting in their own enlightened self-interest?

So, standing at the water's edge of Lake Collaboration, waiting for a few more brave souls to dip their toes in, is when my eyes begin to bug out. And, the deprression gallops toward terror.