Definition: "Excellent organisations plan and manage external partnerships, suppliers and internal resources in order to support policy and strategy and the effective operation of processes. During planning and whilst managing partnerships and resources they balance the current and future needs of the organisation, the community and the environment."
Copyright EFQM 1999. The EFQM Model is a Registered Trademark.

There are FIVE sub criterion parts (4a to 4e), associated with the Partnerships and Resources criterion.

Examples of Sub Criterion Parts:

4c. Buildings, equipment and materials are managed
4e. Information and knowledge are managed

As before, the guidance points can be used to expand upon the criterion part statement. For example, under Criterion part 3c might be a question relating to the optimisation of stock inventories and transportation. The sub criterion relating to information and knowledge may prompt the organisation to look at how it acquires and secures information using IT.

Partnerships can take many forms and it is important that they genuinely serve the business interests of both parties, rather that simply being a traditional supplier to custom relationship.