SmarterReward™
The first diagnostic that reveals how partner compensation affects collaboration and shared success.
Ivan Matviak
Smarter Collaboration Intl. · Co-author, Smarter Collaboration
Decades of Research. Real-World Impact.
The First Diagnostic for Partner Compensation & Collaboration
SmarterReward™ provides leaders with insight into how reward systems enable or inhibit collaboration in professional partnerships.
In most firms, partner reward is a major barrier, often leaving millions of dollars in revenue upside on the table. Our diagnostic reveals exactly how compensation affects collaboration and shared success.
My research clearly shows that rainmakers who collaborate, who share the work they originate, end up with significantly bigger books of business than those who hoard work.
Dr. Heidi K. Gardner · Smart Collaboration
Why Firms Invest in the Diagnostic
The best partner compensation systems drive strategy execution, foster collaboration among partners and provide competitive profit shares to retain and attract the best partner talent – all while recognizing that each partner’s contributions to the business are unique.
01
Drive Strategy Execution
Align partner incentives directly with the behaviours and priorities that deliver your firm’s strategy.
02
Foster Collaboration
Design reward systems that incentivise partners to work together across practice groups and geographies.
03
Attract & Retain Top Talent
Provide competitive profit shares and a transparent reward framework that attracts and keeps the best partner talent.
04
Recognise Unique Contributions
Recognise that each partner’s contributions to the business are unique and reward them accordingly.
05
Uncover Specific Actions
Uncover specific, evidence-based actions you can take to measurably improve your partner reward system.
Four Core Outcomes
Our diagnostic delivers measurable insights that transform how your firm approaches partner compensation and collaboration.
01
Clarity
Objective SmarterReward™ Index of how compensation empowers or blocks collaboration.
02
Actionable Insights
Concrete priorities and recommendations for change.
03
Peer Benchmarking
Compare your SmarterReward™ Index data against similar firms in your sector.
04
Progress Tracking
Measurable improvements over time.
The 3-I™ Framework
A diagnostic across three interconnected pillars of partner reward design.
01
Imperatives
Strategic foundations
- Strategic necessity
- Collaborative leadership
- Collaborative culture & trust
02
Incentives
Results & Metrics Design
- Business development
- Service delivery
- Innovation
- Talent development
03
Integrity
Reward System Alignment
- Reward architecture
- Contribution management
- Reward decision-making
How We Work With You
A structured, expert-led engagement that delivers clear and actionable findings for your leadership team.
Leadership kick-off
Align on context, expectations and firm-specific considerations.
Partner perceptions
A quantitative survey to understand first-hand how your compensation system shapes collaboration behaviours.
Expert evaluation
A structured review with your management team of how your compensation system impacts partner collaboration.
Leadership debrief
Detailed insights workshop on your firm’s SmarterReward Index on how to prioritise change for better partner collaboration.
What Your SmarterReward™ Index Looks Like
The SmarterReward™ Index scores all 10 dimensions across the 3-I™ Framework and provides a comprehensive report which we will be reviewed in the debrief workshop.
SmarterReward™ Diagnostic Report
3-I™ Framework Radar
Firm-wide average across all partner responses: 3.5 / 5
Pillar Scores & Key Findings
The table below summarizes the firm-wide scores and core diagnostic findings across each of the three pillars of the 3-I™ Framework.
Partners recognise the strategic case for collaboration. Leadership alignment is partial — some practice heads actively sponsor cross-selling while others operate in silos. Cultural norms around client ownership remain the primary barrier.
Business development and talent metrics are well-structured. Service delivery incentives are present but perceived as opaque. Innovation rewards are largely absent, leaving a significant motivational gap for partners investing in new service development.
Reward architecture is the standout strength. Contribution management is inconsistent across practice groups. Decision-making transparency is the most critical issue — the majority of partners do not trust the allocation process.
Imperatives: Strategic Foundations
Partner responses on how well the reward system is grounded in the strategic case for collaboration.
Key Finding
Partners recognise the strategic case for collaboration. Leadership alignment is partial. Some practice heads actively sponsor cross-selling while others operate in silos. Cultural norms around client ownership remain the primary barrier.
Incentives: Results & Metrics Design
Partner responses on how well compensation metrics reward collaborative behaviours.
Key Finding
Business development and talent metrics are well-structured. Service delivery incentives are present but perceived as opaque. Innovation rewards are largely absent, leaving a significant motivational gap for partners investing in new service development.
Integrity: Reward System Alignment
Partner responses on the fairness and transparency of reward decision-making.
Key Finding
Reward architecture is the standout strength. Contribution management is inconsistent across practice groups. Decision-making transparency is the most critical issue. The majority of partners do not trust the allocation process.
Prioritised Action Roadmap
Recommended actions ordered by urgency based on your firm’s SmarterReward™ Index scores.
Immediate Priority
Reward Decision-Making
Introduce structured decision criteria, independent moderation and a right-of-reply process to rebuild partner confidence in the allocation process.
Contribution Management
Standardise contribution capture across all practice groups using a shared platform with regular partner input cycles.
Short-Term (3 to 6 Months)
Trust & Culture
Run facilitated cross-practice sessions to surface and address unwritten rules that inhibit referrals and joint pitching.
Collaborative Leadership
Introduce a leadership collaboration index as part of the partner performance framework to create accountability at the top.
Meet the Experts
Three global authorities on collaboration and partner compensation.
Dr. Heidi K. Gardner
Co-Founder & Distinguished FellowDistinguished Fellow at Harvard Law School and former professor at Harvard Business School. Author of the best-selling book Smarter Collaboration and a global authority on professional service firm performance.
View full profile
Ivan Matviak
Co-Founder & Managing PartnerCo-founder of Smarter Collaboration International and a senior advisor to professional service firm leaders globally. Former executive at State Street and Bain & Company.
View full profile
Michael Roch
Partnership AdvisorA leading advisor on professional firm governance, partner compensation design, and strategic mergers. Over 25 years of experience working with law, accounting, and consulting firms globally.
View full profileDecades of Research, Condensed
The Partner Remuneration Handbook
A comprehensive guide to partner compensation architectures, contribution management, and making fair reward decisions aligned with a firm’s ethos and culture.
Smarter Collaboration
Co-authored by Ivan Matviak and Dr. Heidi K. Gardner, this Harvard Business Review title provides a research-backed framework for breaking down silos and building collaborative behaviours that drive firm performance.
Learn More About Collaboration & Reward
Explore insights from the experts behind SmarterReward™ on how partner compensation shapes collaboration, culture and firm performance.
Why Most Reward Systems Fail to Drive Collaboration
Imperatives, Incentives and Integrity: The Three Pillars of SmarterReward™
Balancing Individual Performance and Collaboration in Partner Pay
Video content coming soon. Contact us to discuss the topics that matter most to your firm.
Ready to transform your reward system?
Schedule a diagnostic to discover how your compensation system can actively promote collaboration and drive firm performance.