Abstract
The paper explores a case of partnership between a large pharmaceutical company and a national charity in the United Kingdom, a partnership from which the drug company sought improved public relations, and the charity money. Neither side was able to accept this reality. Managers of the partnership insisted that its only purpose was to improve the lifestyle of teenagers. They were supported by a literature on partnership that also tends to ignore the distinction between the task the partnership is set and its fundamental purpose. While much is made of the benefits of partnership, there are likely to be costs, both private and social, associated with failure to admit the purpose of partnership.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
M. Ahmad (2001) Unequal Friends: The Partnership between International NGOs and Local NGOs in Bangladesh International Centre for Development Studies. National University of Ireland Galway
A. Andreasen (1996) ArticleTitle‘Profits for Nonprofits: Find a Corporate Partner’ Harvard Business Review 74 IssueID6 47–59 Occurrence Handle10162358
M. Beecham M. Cordey-Hayes (1998) ArticleTitle‘Partnering and Knowledge Transfer in the UK Motor Industry’ Technovation 18 IssueID3 191–205 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0166-4972(97)00113-2
Bennett J., Jayes S. (1995). Trusting the Team. The Best Practice Guide to Partnering in Construction. Centre for Strategic Studies in Construction, University of Reading
K. Blois (1999) ArticleTitle‘Trust in Business to Business Relationships: An Evaluation of its Status’ Journal of Management Studies 36 IssueID2 197–215 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1467-6486.00133
J. Brinkerhoff (2002) ArticleTitle‘Government – Nonprofit Partnership: A Defining Framework’ Public Administration and Development 22 19–30 Occurrence Handle10.1002/pad.203
T. Butcher (1996) ArticleTitlereview of J Lewis: 1995 The Voluntary Sector, the State and Social Work in Britain, Public Administration 74 336–337
A. Campbell R. Cooper (1999) ArticleTitle‘Do Customer Partnerships Improve New Product Success Rates?’ Industrial Marketing Management 28 507–519 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0019-8501(99)00058-9
Carr S. (2001). ‘Out of the Frying Pan into a Gruelling Bout of Question and Armstrong’. Independent, 14 February, 8
S. Cavusgil (1998) ArticleTitle‘International Partnering – A Systematic Framework for Collaborating with Foreign Business Partners’ Journal of International Marketing 6 IssueID1 91–107
E Cheng H. Li P. Love (2000) ArticleTitle‘Establishment of Critical Success Factors for Construction Partnering’ Journal of Management in Engineering 16 IssueID2 84–92 Occurrence Handle10.1061/(ASCE)0742-597X(2000)16:2(84)
V. Chiesa R. Manzini (1998) ArticleTitle‘Organizing for Technological Collaborations: A Managerial Perspective’ R & D Management 28 IssueID3 199–212
D. Chollet (1992) ArticleTitle‘Building a Private–Public Partnership that Works’ Inquiry 29 116–119 Occurrence Handle1612712
T. Clark D. Greatbatch (2002) ‘Knowledge Legitimation and Audience Affiliation through Storytelling: The Example of Management Gurus’ T. Clark R. Fincham (Eds) Critical Consulting. Blackwell Oxford 152–171
InstitutionalAuthorNameComptroller General. Auditor (2001) Joining Up to Improve Public Service HMSO London
S. Dent (1999) Partnering Intelligence: Creating Value for your Business by Building Strong Alliances Davies-Black, Palo Alto CA
S Domberger S. Farago P. Fernandez (1997) ArticleTitle‘Public and Private Sector Partnering: A Re-appraisal’ Public Administration 75 777–787 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1467-9299.00086
Economist: (2003). ‘Where the Money Is’. 26 April, 63–64
C. Eden C. Huxham (2001) ArticleTitle‘The Negotiation of Purpose in Multi-organisational Collaborative Groups’ Journal of Management Studies 38 IssueID3 373–391 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1467-6486.00241
Fortune: (1998). ‘How Glaxo and SmithKline Tripped on Egos’. 30 March, 32
C Glendinning S. Abbott A. Coleman (2001) ArticleTitle‘Bridging the Gap’: New Relationships between Primary Care Groups and Local Authorities’ Social Policy and Administration 35 IssueID4 411–425 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1467-9515.00242
C. Hallett E. Birchall (1992) Coordination and Child␣Protection A Review of the Literature. HMSO Edinburgh
Hansard, House of Commons: (2001). 13 February
L. Heracleous J. Murray (2001) ArticleTitle‘The Urge to Merge in the Pharmaceutical Industry’ European Management Journal 19 IssueID4 430–437 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0263-2373(01)00046-9
A. Himmelman (1996) ‘On the Theory and Practice of Transformational Collaboration: From Social Service to Social Justice’ C. Huxham (Eds) Creating Collaborative Advantage Sage London 19–43
M. Hitt et al. (2000) ArticleTitle‘Partner Selection in Emerging and Developed Market Contexts: Resource-based and Organizational Learning Perspectives’ Academy of Management Journal. 43 IssueID3 449–467
Hudson B. (1989). ‘Collaboration: The Elusive Chimera’. Health Service Journal 19 January, 82–83
C. Huxham (Eds) (1996) Creating Collaborative Advantage Sage London
R. Jackall (1988) Moral Mazes The World of Corporate Managers. Oxford University Press New York
P. Klemperer (1998) ArticleTitle‘Auctions with Almost Common Values: The “Wallet Game” and its Applications’ European Economic Review. 42 IssueID3/5 757–769 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0014-2921(97)00123-2
R Lasker E. Weiss R. Miller (2001) ArticleTitle‘Partnership Synergy: A Practical Framework for Studying and Strengthening the Collaborative Advantage’ Milbank Quarterly. 79 IssueID2 179–205 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1468-0009.00203 Occurrence Handle11439464
M. Latham (1994) Constructing the Team, Final Report of the Government/Industry Review of Procurement and Contractual Arrangements in the UK Construction Industry HMSO London
F. Lazar (2000) ArticleTitle‘Project Partnering: Improving the Likelihood of WinlWin Outcomes’ Journal of Management in Engineering 16 IssueID2 71–83 Occurrence Handle10.1061/(ASCE)0742-597X(2000)16:2(71)
J Lexchin L. Bero B. Djulbegovic O. Clark (2003) ArticleTitle‘Pharmaceutical Industry Sponsorship and Research Outcome and Quality: Systematic Review’ British Medical Journal 326 1167–1170 Occurrence Handle12775614
T. Ling (2001) Joined Up Government in the UK: Dimensions, Issues and Problems National Audit Office Working Paper London
S. Lister (2000) ArticleTitle‘Power in Partnership? An Analysis of an NGO’s Relationship with its Partners’ Journal of International Development 12 227–239 Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1099-1328(200003)12:2<227::AID-JID637>3.0.CO;2-U
V. Lowndes (1994) ArticleTitlereview of S Saxon-Harold and J. Kendall (eds.): 1993 IssueIDResearching the Voluntary Sector, Public Administration 72 140–141
V. Lowndes C. Skelcher (1998) ArticleTitle‘The Dynamics of Multi-organizational Partnerships: An Analysis of Changing Modes of Governance’ Public Administration 76 313–333 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1467-9299.00103
V Lowndes P. Nanton A. McCabe C. Skelcher (1997) ArticleTitle‘Networks, Partnerships and Urban Regeneration’ Local Economy 11 IssueID4 333–342
C MacDonald M. McDonald W. Norman (2002) ArticleTitle‘Charitable Conflicts of Interest’ Journal of Business Ethics 39 67–74 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1016379900781
Macdonald S. (1992). ‘Information Networks and the Exchange of Information’. In: Antonelli C. (ed). The Economics of Information Networks. North-Holland, Amsterdam, pp. 51–69
M. Mackintosh (1992) ArticleTitle‘Partnership: Issues of Policy and Negotiation’ Local Economy 7 IssueID3 210–224
A. Madhok S. Tallman (1998) ArticleTitle‘Resources, Transactions and Risks: Managing Value through Interfirm Collaborative Relationships’ Organization Science 9 326–339
J. Medcof (1997) ArticleTitle‘Why Too Many Alliances End in Divorce’ Long Range Planning. 30 IssueID5 718–732 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0024-6301(97)00050-2
Milmo C. (2003). ‘Toilet Tissue Firm Accused over Children’s Books ‘Ploy”, Independent, 17 June, 7
R. Moynihan (2003) ArticleTitle‘Who Pays for the Pizza? Redefining the Relationships between Doctors and Drug Companies’ British Medical Journal 326 1189–1196 Occurrence Handle12775621
L. Nevarez (2000) ArticleTitle‘Corporate Philanthropy in the New Urban Economy’ Urban Affairs Review 36 IssueID2 197–227 Occurrence Handle10.1177/10780870022184831
S. Park M. Russo (1996) ArticleTitle‘When Competition Eclipses Cooperation: An Event History Analysis of Joint Venture Failure’ Management Science 42 875–890
J. Patten (1991) ArticleTitle‘Government, Business and the Voluntary Sector: A Developing Partnership’ Policy Studies 12 IssueID3 4–10
S. Pilling (2000) ArticleTitle‘The British Library’s Co-operation and Partnership Programme’ Interlending and Document Supply 28 IssueID1 38–39 Occurrence Handle10.1108/02641610010314876
W. Ryan (1999) ArticleTitle‘The New Landscape for Nonprofits’ Harvard Business Review 77 IssueID1 127–136 Occurrence Handle10345388
A. Sargeant J. Kahler (1999) ArticleTitle‘Returns on Fundraising Expenditures in the Voluntary Sector’ Nonprofit Management and Leadership 10 IssueID1 5–19 Occurrence Handle10.1002/nml.10102
M. Schminke D. Wells (1999) ArticleTitle‘Group Processes and Performance and their Effects on Individuals’ Ethical Frameworks’ Journal of Business Ethics 18 367–381 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1005785628264
M. Stewart (1994) ArticleTitle‘Between Whitehall and Town Hall’ Policy and Politics 22 IssueID2 133–145
A. Sturdy (1997) ArticleTitle‘The Dialectics of Consultancy’ Critical Perspectives on Accounting 8 511–535 Occurrence Handle10.1006/cpac.1996.0119
G. Teisman E.-H. Klijn (2002) ArticleTitle‘Partnership Arrangements: Governmental Rhetoric or Governance Scheme?’ Public Administration Review 62 IssueID2 197–205 Occurrence Handle10.1111/0033-3352.00170
InstitutionalAuthorNameDepartment of Health. (1999) Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation HMSO London U.K
J. Walker (1999) ArticleTitle‘Partnerships to Improve Rural and Remote Health Care’ Australian Journal of Public Administration 58 IssueID3 72–75 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1467-8500.00109
K Walsh V. Lowndes K. Riley J. Woollam (1996) ArticleTitle‘Management in the Public Sector: A Content Analysis of Journals’ Public Administration 74 315–324
J. Weiss (1981) ArticleTitle‘Substance vs Symbol in Administrative Reform: The Case of Human Services Coordination’. Policy Analysis 7 IssueID1 21–45
C.-G. Westrin (1987) ArticleTitle‘Primary Health Care: Cooperation between Health and Welfare Personnel’ Scandinavian Journal of Social Medicine. Supplement 38 5–73
L Wildeman (1998) ArticleTitle‘Alliances and Networks: The Next Generation’ International Journal of Technology Management 15 IssueID1–2 96–108 Occurrence Handle10.1504/IJTM.1998.002602
A. Wong (1999) ArticleTitle‘Partnering Through Cooperative Goals in Supply Chain Relationships’ Total Quality Management 10 IssueID4–5 S786–S792 Occurrence Handle10.1080/0954412997811
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Macdonald, S., Chrisp, T. Acknowledging the Purpose of Partnership. J Bus Ethics 59, 307–317 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-004-3235-5
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-004-3235-5