Now is an excellent time for procurement heads to show their leadership skills and take ownership of the money-saving agenda. As most major economies emerge from recession, CEOs and business leaders are cautiously planning for the next growth cycle. The winners in this cycle will be the companies that focus on enhancing customer value while eradicating costs that don’t match … Read More
Procurements Reporting Lines: He who would be king?
The CFO & CPO are increasingly seen as CEO’s in training. Yes? Companies such as Wal-Mart, Chrysler and Merck have had CEO’s who had been CPO. This new prominence places the CPO in direct competition with the CFO and other CXO’s for the corner office position. However, that the CEO still predominantly delegates responsibility for supply to the CFO suggest … Read More
Whistler Blackcomb – Could Strategic Procurement have helped?
As the debt laden Fortress Investment Group who purchased the resort’s operator Intrawest LLC struggles to repay $1.7bn loan, the Winter Olympic Games host resort faces uncertain future. Intrawest has undergone widespread decentralisation – fragmenting their procurement leverage and embarked upon a resort garage sale. Had the company invested in developing its procurement capabilities to take control of cost a … Read More
Customer Centric Procurement:
Customer Centric Procurement: Customer Centric Procurement: Companies everywhere proclaim themselves as customer focused and publish statements in their corporate brochures emphasising their commitment to a customer-centric business model, both externally and internally. However, many of these companies have yet to back these statements up by investing in the core capabilities, processes and systems necessary to maximize the opportunity to deliver … Read More
Navigating Uncertainty
CEO’s are managing in uncertain times – their CPO can play a key role in helping them succeed CEO’s are having to rethink their business strategies in the uncertain times that are the ‘new normal’. Their strategies, usually centred around certain business assumptions or “indisputables” that are driving growth are being tested. None more so than ‘how consumers spend’. … Read More
2010: Lessons for the Recovery
Its the time of year again where we take a look back and try and assess the last 12 months and think ahead to what awaits us in 2010. In that spirit, we take a look at what we believe represent some of the most important lessons to take into the year ahead: 1. “Collaborate”: In November we reported how … Read More
Skills for tomorrows procurement leaders:
The procurement profession is still in a transitory phase. There are glimpses of the future but still too much deadwood from the past which will need to be chopped before we can say the traditional procurement professional is dead. Consultants have played a key role in lifting procurement to its current lofty peak, so much so I became one myself … Read More
Procurement Aerobics for the Agile Organisation:
The pace at which a company, is able to adapt and evolve is dependent upon the number of new strategic options that it is able to generate and test. The agile organisation is therefore one that captures more than its fair share of new opportunities, successfully balances risk with reward and is in a state of constant renewal by redefining … Read More
Ikea Brand Management 101 – Look after your staff
The man who wants to turn Ikeas pleasant well groomed image on its head is Johan Stenebo. Stenebo, who has working at Ikea more than 20 years, left the company nine months ago after disputes with the management. Now he has written a tell-all book, “Sanningen om Ikea” (“The Truth About Ikea”), that has attracted much attention in Sweden. In … Read More
Procurement’s Golden Triangle for Strategic Impact
Introduction Increasingly, organizations see Supply Management as a core ‘must get right’ competency. In leading organizations around the world supply management is beginning to take an active role in product innovation and brand management, which require the critical skills incorporated into procurement’s golden triangle. These organizations realize that a large part of their relationship with end customers is in fact, … Read More