Having the right people in Purchasing is a must to delivering procurements promised strategic contribution. So try to answer the following questions for your organization: Have you developed a Culture where people are deeply aware of and have internalized the Mission, Vision and Core Values needed to execute the Purchasing and Business Strategy? How well prepared and equipped to carry … Read More
The Greatest Challenge is Internal: Stakeholder Relationships
The Greatest Challenge is Internal: Stakeholder Relationship’s Procurement is often perceived as an EXTERNAL facing function. After all procurement negotiates with suppliers and works with them to reduce cost and improve efficiencies doesn’t it? Well this may be true in part, but procurement’s ability to achieve its objectives is strongly impacted by the strength and quality of its INTERNAL relationships … Read More
Beyond Cost Savings
Procurement leaders must broaden the procurement agenda beyond cost savings and focus on growth and added value strategies. Tomorrow’s procurement leaders must link procurement strategies to the businesses drivers for competitive advantage and focus on outcomes that provide advantage for their customers. To do this procurement must become an integral part of the organization’s growth strategy: 1. Create a compelling … Read More
7 deadly sins of procurement:
CPO’s offten operate in difficult challenging environments. So we produced a list of the sins to avoid: 1. No strategic clarity A strong business case, driven by a clear set of objectives owned by the key senior stakeholders, should be an essential pre-condition for any supply management leader. 2. Lack of sustained leadership at senior management level Supply management fails … Read More
Procurements Dilemma – Leader or Support Function
“We want to collaborate with our internal stakeholders, but at the end of the day we cannot tell them to buy into our sourcing strategy.” How many procurement professionals have spent their careers with this echoing loudly in their minds? Procurement professionals become indoctrinated into the profession with messages such as: “You have to take the internal customer along with … Read More
Raising the esteem of procurement
Strategies to break into the boardroom Many companies have already undertaken a procurement transformation program, and have a strong team in place with significant wins on record. That said, procurement is still fighting for higher recognition, and is still viewed at board level largely as a cost centre. Sadly, procurement managers often lack the skills, experience and sometimes, the motivation … Read More
Procurement: 12 Steps to avoid becoming irrelevant
Procurement: 12 Steps to avoid becoming irrelevant Procurement: 12 Steps to avoid becoming irrelevant – Supply Management needs to demonstrate execution excellence and add value beyond traditional cost savings or become irrelevant. To do this clearly requires alignment with the business goals and objectives and the support of the senior management team. Here are 12 suggested steps supply management can … Read More