Sorry… I got distracted
27 January 2012 | Rebecca Ellinor
The purchasing & supply blog
Quick fire topical postings on purchasing and supply chain issues from independent expert commentators and the Supply Management editorial team.
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Who should use a lottery to select suppliers? It could be you
26 January 2012 | Peter Marshall
Last week, bemused colleagues asked me to comment about the reported use in the Czech Republic of lotteries for awarding contracts. The apparent unfairness of this was attracting their interest partly because at first sight it seems incompatible with the use of our evaluation software. (more…)
Better off alone
25 January 2012 | Paul Snell
In the latest issue, SM looked at some techniques to improve innovation when trying to come up with ideas as a team.
But recently published research suggests you might be better off working out problems on your own, rather than involving your colleagues. (more…)
Cost cutting – a warning
24 January 2012 | David Atkinson
This month’s SM provided confirmation that, among 3,000 respondents, cost cutting was their number one priority for 2012. It would be a foolish professional who suggested that this topic was ever going to be eliminated from the role of the buyer. It has always been of critical importance and always will be, as long as organisations are competing to provide the best value products and services into a value-conscious marketplace. (more…)
An exception, rather than the rule
23 January 2012 | David Hansom
Following Francis Maude’s statement to public sector buyers on a ‘presumption against competitive dialogue’, you could be forgiven for being a little confused.
Competitive dialogue has always been an exception route, to be used only where the open and restricted procedures cannot generate the required outcome or where the authority does not know the detail of what it wants to buy (and how) in advance. Nothing new in the most recent statement, then? (more…)
UK seeks teenaged chancellor
20 January 2012 | Rebecca Ellinor
In the quest to save money and reduce the deficit, every avenue is being explored for ideas.
The government has already sought input from experts, the public sector and the general public with the Spending Challenge and now the Citizenship Foundation is asking teens for their thoughts. (more…)
A healthy development for NHS buyers
19 January 2012 | Zoe Greenwell
At Barts and The London NHS Trust we constantly try to ensure best value in everything we purchase, but it is a mammoth task.
While 87 per cent of our influenceable non-pay spend of £195 million is covered by contracts, we need to do much more to ensure we have value for money. (more…)
Purchasing sanity check for 2012
18 January 2012 | Kathleen McCahill
The start of a new year is a fine time to consider an overview of purchasing – if only for a sanity check. It’s time to dust off that old handbook, determine what is relevant and which practices can be replaced. (more…)
Let’s hear it for ‘Truly good Tuesdays’
17 January 2012 | Angeline Albert
Every so often the media gets excited (not unusual I know, but be patient) about a day of the week that has been branded ‘bad’.
Following hot on the heels of Friday 13th, yesterday was ‘Blue Monday’. The third Monday of January is supposed to be the most depressing day of the year: a time when the credit card bills hit people’s doormats after a Christmas season of fun and excess – with payday still at least a week away – and when the month continues its chilly attack. (more…)
No happy new year for agency workers
16 January 2012 | Paul Snell
It has been more than 100 days since the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) came into force, but the update on the impact of the legislation is not positive for companies or employees. (more…)
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