Third-party agreements can take many forms and can be a difficult area in which to determine clear-cut definitions. It is intended that this chapter will clarify some of the differences and identify some of the similarities.
Agreements can be between any two or more organisations. It would be unusual, though not inappropriate, for there to be agreements between two departments within the same organisation. Agreements may occur in this case when, for example, a new process is introduced on a trial basis and it has not yet become ‘business as usual’ and part of the normal internal interaction.
There will always be local variations in the naming of contract types, so this should be considered in interpretation.
Any organisation with which there is an agreement, of whatever structure, should be validated and audited.
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