A Relationship Map is a type of organization map. (The one shown above for Gases R Us is a simplified example of a Relationship Map.) Such a map is a graphic way of showing an organization in the context of its customers, suppliers, competitors, regulatory bodies and, even, society as a whole, where appropriate. Relationship Maps usually include the internal customer-supplier network for the organization depicted, that is, what key functions get from and supply to each other in the course of doing business and, thereby, serving and building external customers.

Think about the following basic premises: Any business can be viewed as an organization whose purpose is to create some product or service.

Most organizations are interested in surviving into the future.

You cannot manage something or control its success, if you connot measure it.

The only practical source for developing measurement standards or criteria is the customer marketplace.

There is significant opportunity to improve organization performance by clarifying and managing the
customer-supplier relationships that join the component parts (internal functions) of any company.
Agreement with these premises is a vote for a systematic analysis of your organization before buying or implementing any "stuff" to improve performance!! Organization mapping is an effective tool for that analysis. In mapping, we are concerned with who gets what from whom, rather than just who reports to whom.

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