Today's pick is a heist movie 'classic'. 'Ocean's Eleven' tells the story of Danny Ocean (George Clooney), a wry, charismatic thief, who in less than 24 hours into his parole from a New Jersey penitentiary, is already rolling out his next plan. He assembles a group of eleven people and orchestrates the most sophisticated and elaborate casino heist in history.

What I really love about this movie (apart from the plan, twists, excellent actors and a list of other 14 other things I like) is that it reflects the following idea in such a clear and relatable way:

To achieve complex goals, you need a solid plan and the right team behind you.

Just think about Ocean's partners in crime. Each and every member of the team has a very specific skill set and fits very well in the plan's structure and sequencing:

1. Danny Ocean - the ringleader and the guy with the plan. This character fits Clooney like a glove and it is impossible not to ride for him.
2. Rusty Ryan - Danny's right-hand man and handles the details of the day-to-day operations while Danny is more focused on the big picture.
3. Linus Caldwell - one of the newcomers to Danny's crew, is a skilled pickpocket thief and no stranger to this world he was recruited into.
4. Reuben Tishkoff - a flamboyant business kingpin, old-school business tycoon who was like a mentor to Danny and Rusty. One of his best assets in this plan is his extensive knowledge of the Vegas casino scene and the mark.
5. Saul Bloom - old pro scammer, who plays a crucial role in the casino-heist and gain the team access into the vault.
6. Basher Tarr - the munitions expert of the team.
7. Frank Catton - experienced card dealer, played by Bernie Mac (it is impossible not to love Bernie).
8. Livingston Dell - the tech guy - a genius with computers and surveillance equipment.
9. The Malloy Brothers - Virgil and Turk Malloy are skilled drivers and talented mechanics.
10. The Amazing Yen - a Chinese acrobat, brought in for his flexibility and short stature.

Pretty similar to a business operations structure, isn't it?

We got a decision maker, a team leader and various members that work together like a well-designed engine. Just as for a high profile heist, implementing Oracle B2C Service or a customization / new functionality for your organization takes planning, the right people in the right roles and of course, expertise.

Sometimes, you might lack some of the ingredients needed to 'cook' your plan or move to the finish line. Here is where a partner comes in handy. You might think 'I’m perfectly happy on my own, thank you very much', but think long-term. What would Danny do? Is he a munitions expert, an acrobat or a tech guy? Obviously, he needs a partner who can provide that expertise.

We always recommend and cannot stress enough the importance of choosing an Oracle Certified partner (specialized in Oracle B2C Service). By this, you are getting a partner that has:

• Met stringent, product-specific competency and business requirements demonstrating the knowledge, experience and commitment to help a customer’s business succeed
• Had successful previous partner implementations verified by both Oracle and end users
• A proven track record with recent successful Oracle product transaction

You can find an OPN (Oracle Partner Network) certified partner here:

https://partner-finder.oracle.com/catalog/scr/Partners/index.html

Although working with an Oracle certified partner provides huge advantages, it is extremely important to select the right partner for you and your project (out of the 358 listed Oracle B2C Service partners). Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. References:

Check your potential partner out. Real-world results are speaking louder than words, so simply ask for past implementations of what you are trying to achieve and don't take risks.

2. Expertise:

When having the initial discussions with your potential partner about your challenges, alongside the technology part, you should discuss outcomes, people, productivity and processes as well.

3. Working with the partner during the project:

Do they have a plan for the communication between you and their experts? What about the relationship with Oracle Technical Support? What type access should you grant this partner?

4. Culture and way of working:

Is the partner's business and work culture aligned with your own? Especially for long-term partnership - will the communication style, level of formality, expectations for documentation etc. fit your own?

5. Do think about tomorrow:

Flashy and overcomplicated setups are hard to implement and even harder to maintain. Think long term. You should always avoid collaborating with a one-trick pony, except when you actually need one for a very specific customization / activity (but still need to maintain it - so be careful).

To conclude, choosing your 'partners in crime' is essential and ultimately ensures business success. Be like Danny Ocean.

No pressure.