Analyzing Collaboration Relationships Between Rio Tinto and NBA

This essay examines the collaborative relationship between Rio Tinto and the NBA, focusing on their joint efforts to contribute to Africa's economic and social development. The essay highlights Rio Tinto's goals to foster positive change in Africa, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder relationships and global support. It explores the NBA's role, leveraging its popularity to address issues such as youth unemployment and health problems, and cultivate new partnerships. The essay discusses strategies for building relationships with governments, corporate stakeholders, and existing business organizations, emphasizing the importance of brand awareness programs like NBA Cares and Basketball without Borders. The conclusion emphasizes the potential of this collaboration to improve both social and economic aspects of Africa through the cultivation of collaborative relationships and increased brand awareness of the NBA.

Running head: COLLABORATION RELATIONSHIPS
Collaboration Relationships
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1COLLABORATION RELATIONSHIPS
Introduction
The following essay will discuss on the most important aspects of building the proper
relationships between the Rio Tinto Company and NBA. The main aim of Rio Tinto is to make
the positive progress of the African continent in the positive ways. As it is known that the
African continent has lagged behind in the financial aspects, they will need to develop from that
perspective as well as get the societal development on the go. The National Basketball
Association (NBA) has a huge fan following all over the world so they will look to capitalize on
this popularity and bring changes in the African society by the enthusiasm of the global leaders
(Nba.com, 2018).
Making the stakeholder relationships
The Chief Executive of the company, Alan Davies has always looked for the global
support by which he can aggravate the support that the company will need. They are looking to
contribute largely to the social and economic development of Africa (Riotinto.com, 2018). Alan
has always looked on to convince the 40 global business leaders to get the support from their end
by highlighting the glorious past of Rio Tinto and their contribution in the development of the
continent. He has pointed out that there are many problems in the African continent and he has
faced them while the company operates in the seven countries of the continent. The local
communities are lagging behind in almost all the aspects and this is the very reason Alan is
seeking for the proper help. Some of the biggest problems in this section are the unemployment
of the youth, many serious health problems in the past decades and the development of the youth.
He belives if these problems can be sorted out, some good ways can really be found indeed.

2COLLABORATION RELATIONSHIPS
The role of NBA in the development
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has been a very influential organization in
the sports field and this is why their primary responsibility is to make positive contributions in
the improvement of the society. It has been noted that many African basketball players have
taken part in the NBA basketball tournament in USA and represented the so called ‘black
continent’ (Nba.com, 2018). Africa has been oppressed by the colonials over the centuries and
this oppression has led them to the loss of the self belief (Obeng-Odoom, 2013). This part of the
people should be brought back if they have to make a positive comeback in their lives. Alan has
met with the former African players in the NBA like Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo
and the deputy commissioner of NBA Mark Tatum. It has been believed that the two players
mentioned are very much active in the growth and development of Africa indeed (Riotinto.com,
2018).
Cultivating on the new and existing partnerships
It has been a matter of concern that the African countries have been lagging behind so
they will need to get some way back inrto the light of development. It has to be remembered that
the players are not only the individuals who compete on the basketball court (Giampiccoli, Lee
& Nauright, 2015). They are seen as the icons and they have got many responsibilities as well.
This is why they will like to contribute to the development of the continent in the best ways.
However, the higher management of NBA has seen Africa as a great opportunity for the growth
(Fukuda-Parr & Lopes, 2013).
Africa has a huge potential for the positive growth and Alan has been looking for the
corporate entities that will come forward to make sponsorships to spread the game into the

3COLLABORATION RELATIONSHIPS
African grounds as well (Platteau, 2015). As a matter of fact, it can be said that the NBA has
always catered for the growth of the organization in the most positive ways indeed. This will
surely be a pioneering act as they will like to achieve their business objectives in the best ways
possible. NBA can also go for making partnerships with the state and territorial governments and
corporate stakeholders. This will surely be the most important section for the growth of the
continent. The existing relationships between the government and NBA should be strengthened
so they can get more facilities in making awareness programs. They can arrange for the
awareness programs in the field of education and health (Nba.com, 2018).
There is a huge number of fans who could be the target audience for the NBA and their
engagement with the sports should be the main unique selling point for the company as well
(Platteau, 2015) The Chief Executive of Rio Tinto, Alan Davies also thinks that they should
cultivate new relationships with the existing business organizations (Riotinto.com, 2018). This
will be very effective for the organization to get the highest benefits indeed. NBA has made the
resolutions to succeed in the development programs that they have undertaken (Fukuda-Parr &
Lopes, 2013). These programs will surely be able to yield the good results for the company as
well. The building of the partnerships is really essential for the success of Rio Tinto indeed. Alan
Davies has expressed his concern over the unemployment of the youth (Riotinto.com, 2018).
This is why he had gone on to agree to the partnerships with the NBA as they have
developed the programs for the development in giving the young people with proper
employment. There are some brand awareness programs for NBA such as the NBA Cares and
Basketball without Borders (Nba.com, 2018).

4COLLABORATION RELATIONSHIPS
Conclusion
These programs might lead to the success of the common people of the continent in the
best ways indeed. These stakeholders will surely take the initiatives to make the proper
developments of the organization indeed. The cultivation of these collaborative relationships will
also bring in the change in the social aspects indeed. The brand awareness of the NBA can also
be increase in this way as well. Thus it can be concluded that the African Mining Indaba
Conference might lead to the betterment of Africa from both the social and economic aspects as
well.

5COLLABORATION RELATIONSHIPS
References and Bibliography
Asante, S. K. (2016). Regionalism and Africa’s development: expectations, reality and
challenges. Springer.
Cornelissen, S. (2017). The global tourism system: Governance, development and lessons from
South Africa. Routledge.
Fukuda-Parr, S., & Lopes, C. (Eds.). (2013). Capacity for development: new solutions to old
problems. Routledge.
Giampiccoli, A., Lee, S. S., & Nauright, J. (2015). Destination South Africa: Comparing global
sports mega-events and recurring localised sports events in South Africa for tourism and
economic development. Current Issues in Tourism, 18(3), 229-248.
Nba.com. (2018). Latest NBA News, Opinion and Features | GiveMeSport. Retrieved from
http://www.nba.com/
Obeng-Odoom, F. (2013). Africa's failed economic development trajectory: A critique. African
Review of Economics and Finance, 4(2), 151-175.
Platteau, J. P. (2015). Institutions, social norms and economic development. Routledge.
Riotinto.com. (2018). Global home. Retrieved from https://www.riotinto.com/