<p>Copyright TM Forum 2005<br/></p><p><br/></p><p><b>Extended Description</b><br/></p><p><br/></p><p>This horizontal functional process grouping supports the core operational processes, both the customer instance processes of Fulfillment, Assurance and Billing and the functional operations processes. Supplier/Partner Relationship Management (S/PRM) processes align closely with a supplier's or partner's Customer Relationship Management processes. The inclusion of distinct Supplier/Partner Relationship Management processes in the eTOM framework enables the direct interface with the appropriate lifecycle, end-to-end customer operations or functional processes with suppliers and/or partners.  The processes include issuing purchase orders and tracking them through to delivery, mediation of purchase orders as required to conform to external processes, handling problems, validating billing and authorizing payment, as well as quality management of suppliers and partners.<br/></p><p><br/></p><p>It is important to note that when the enterprise sells its products to a partner or supplier, this is done through the enterprise CRM processes, which act on behalf of the supplier or the enterprise in such cases. Supplier/Partner processes only cover the buying of S/P supplied products by the enterprise.<br/></p>