Supplier diversity was an issue on the lips of many at today’s conference, with the merits of South African targets for minority suppliers under the spotlight.
We are now in the conference season and there are events virtually every day at the moment. As we know, the best information and contacts are often made outside the formal sessions; meeting new people, networking and even schmoozing. But it can be daunting. You stand there with your cup of tea surveying the room, [...]
Buyers must “destroy the focus on cost savings” and concentrate more on shareholder value. That was one of the messages at a purchasing forum in London last Friday. Professor Paul Cousins, from the Supply Chain Management Research Group at Manchester Business School, told the audience: “Cost savings will go out of fashion and those concentrating [...]
Oh dear. If The Apprentice is meant to represent the pinnacle of Britain’s business youth, the procurement profession ought to be very, very worried. The contestant’s attempt to demonstrate their buying and negotiation skills was nothing short of shambolic. Celebrating the negotiation of a £1 discount would probably have had most professional buyers hanging their [...]
It used to all be about cars – now drugs and money are where it’s at. At least that’s what Richard Nixon, a partner at KPMG procurement advisory, argues in the latest issue of SM. He says that while the procurement leaders of the past came from the automotive sector, the leaders of the future [...]
In the next issue of Supply Management, out tomorrow – Featured Articles To outsource or not to outsource – The benefits and drawbacks of procurement outsourcing Don’t be the weakest link – The importance of inventory and logistics in low-cost country sourcing School of hard knocks – Tim Byles, chief executive at Partnerships for Schools, [...]
Live report – 2007 Institute for Supply Management Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada At the ISM conference on Monday delegates heard how negotiation techniques vary (or should) between men and women – the so-called men are from Mars and women are from Venus concept. But is this true? Does it work to take a different approach [...]
Live report – 2007 Institute for Supply Management conference, Las Vegas, Nevada Even when there are reports and tonnes of research evidence pointing to one course of action, is it sometimes correct just to ignore it and go with your intuition? According to the Malcolm Gladwell, opening speaker at this week’s ISM annual conference, it [...]
Live report – 2007 Institute for Supply Management conference, Las Vegas, Nevada Understatement was not really a feature of the opening of the the 92nd International Supply Management Conference on Sunday. Held at Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas – I know, a hellish assignment, but somebody has got to do it – the event promised [...]
As we prepare our women’s special issue in June, we’ve been looking through through the archives and came across this little gem of a discussion between T F Turner and F J White from September 1948. Turner asked White the question “What future do you think women have in the higher ranks of purchasing profession [...]
