The nature of the relationship and stage-managing all interfaces.
Nature of the relationship: how the relationship exists and is defined, what parties do, how they do it, what is acceptable and what is not and all the factors that constitute a given relationship.
Stage managing interfaces: understanding and managing all the points of interface between the two businesses. Managing relationship with suppliers is about ensuring that the nature and extent of all relationship operate with a common purpose and that all on our side understand their role to support this.