Strategic Relationship Management and governance

Are strategic relations and their management for the public sphere a working combination? Is it a task of the government to build and maintain strategic relations? To obtain what type of profit exactly? These questions could arise in the public debate on the core business of governments. The integrity of leaders is often the center of attention.

Strategic Relationship Management and development of a network of contacts for governmental purposes does not seem at first glance to be something of direct benefit. This is different from a commercial environment where the contacts often lead to a direct result in extra commercial orders, more sales, or a higher profit. However, there is “no role in a lean and mean government organization” for a wide range of strategic relations, as we hear often, because it could raise questions in the press or from the opposition about integrity issues or misconduct with taxpayer money, or obscure lobbying work with a negative impact on democratic transparency.

I consider the contrary to be true. Maintaining relations is part of the very existence of public officials. A democratic government is forced to communicate and build relationships to achieve its communal goals. On a national level, it is obvious how international relations are organized — a ministry of foreign affairs manages the contacts with other countries and international organizations. The diplomatic world is a perfect example of Strategic Relationship Management for governments. It covers many of the features that define the know-how of relationship management; building long-term relations, communicating with stakeholders who have an interest in the matter, having a certain goal in the objective and personal attention by a stable representative (the network of ambassadors, embassy staff ).

On a national level, governments are constantly seeking coalitions or partnerships to rule a country or act on a supranational level (such as EU networks), both with internal and external stakeholders. The techniques of relationship management apply brilliantly to this ecosystem.

The angles become more complex when looking at it from a local perspective. This complexity is not only within the system and boundaries of the governmental levels — nowadays, in a globalized world, keeping relationships and maintaining international contacts is also fashionable.