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
The 12 Myths of Procurement – Down-Under
The Australian Purchasing Professional magazine recently published an interesting insight into procurement life down- under, in a paper published by Guy Callender, CIPSA Foundation Professor and Professor and chair of Leadership in Strategic Procurement at Curtin University of Technology. The paper touches on many issues for the wider professional development worldwide, to which I add a personal perspective below: 1.Introduction: … Read More
Are Corporate HR Practices Stifling Innovation?
Reading an interesting article by Professor William A. Fischer at the IMD Institute on creating virtuoso teams, brought my mind back to innovation in corporations, something I wrote about last month ( here) Professor Fischers article raised a question I have pondered many times – “are corporate HR practices stifling innovation?” Modern recruitment practices put candidate through a range of … Read More
Time to Call the Shots in Asia?
Procurement -online published an interesting article which gave a good insight into the development of procurement in Asia, but also sends a relevant message to those procurement functions around the world that have not yet secured a strong mandate from the board. The article describes scenarios still recognisable by many in Europe or North America – a tale of unrecognised … Read More
14 Ways You Can Tell If An RFP Is Wired For Someone Else
14 Ways You Can Tell If An RFP Is Wired 14 Ways You Can Tell If An RFP Is Wired For Someone Else – 3Forward published an interesting article discussing how you can determine if an RFP is rigged or wired. This sales organisation perspective may provide an interesting insight for many purchasers which could be useful when constructing an … Read More
Top Ten Priorities for Innovation Centred Procurement:
Procurement must learn to adapt to the rapidly changing environment modern businesses operate in or risk becoming irrelevant. It is not just about new tools, but about mind-sets and behaviours. Its also about monitoring developments in its external environment that impact their organisations ability to compete and therefore procurements ability to contribute strategically. These changes are about innovation, where technologies … Read More
Planning for Growth This Hiring Season?
After winding down for the summer, the silly season is over and its time to start planning your resources for the challenges 2010 will bring. Like most companies, the economic downturn may have forced you to cut back your procurement staff, and you very likely may have lost some star performers. The first few weeks of September can be critical … Read More