A reader asked: Our department is considering multisourcing – outsourcing different functions to different providers rather than using a single provider. Are there any drawbacks to this approach? Can you offer any advice? Share this postClose Bookmark and Share This Page Save to Browser Favorites / BookmarksAskbackflipblinklistBlogBookmarkBloglinesBlogMarksBlogsvineBuddyMarksBUMPzee!CiteULikeco.mmentsConnoteadel.icio.usDiggdiigoDotNetKicksDropJackdzoneFacebookFarkFavesFeed Me LinksFriendsitefolkd.comFurlGoogleHuggJamespotJeqqKaboodlekirtsylinkaGoGoLinkedInLinksMarkerMa.gnoliaMister WongMixxMySpaceMyWebNetvouzNewsvineoneviewOnlyWirePlugIMPropellerRedditRojoSegnaloShoutwireSimpySlashdotSphereSphinnSpurlSquidooStumbleUponTechnoratiThisNextTwitterWebrideWindows LiveWorlds MoviesYahoo!Email This to a FriendCopy [...]

Filed under:
*Purchasing by Steve Bagshaw

In SM’s latest Soapbox article, Martin Blake, head of corporate procurement at London Probation, argues the struggle to achieve work/life balance is not solely the preserve of women. "My career has been affected just as much as a woman’s. I was a retail manager at the time and couldn’t just turn up late. So I [...]

Filed under:
*Purchasing by Steve Bagshaw

As today is the 100th SM blog we’re taking a look back at the topics that got you motivated. Purchasing in the UAE prompted deliberation about whether procurement should be buying British or not. Bloggers were keen to divulge how they got into the profession when we kicked off a discussion about careers in procurement. [...]

Filed under:
*Purchasing by Steve Bagshaw

“Highly educated, multilingual, with a very strong work ethic”, Jane Simms’ cover feature in the latest issue of SM does much to extol the virtues of Eastern European procurement professionals. But while this may be the case, too few UK companies seem to have identified this rich talent pool, which, if Simms’ predictions pan out, [...]

Filed under:
*Purchasing by Steve Bagshaw

The growth of social networking applications such as Facebook and MySpace has become increasingly apparent recently, with a number of firms banning use of them in the workplace entirely. While most are concerned with personal activities, there are a number of sites, such as LinkedIn, that specialise in business networking. How useful are these sites [...]

Filed under:
*Purchasing by Steve Bagshaw

A question posed by a reader: I plan to run a ‘procurement awareness’ presentation for the non-commercial team players in my organisation. I want to enlighten non-buyers without it being dry or a case of “death by PowerPoint”. Any ideas?

Filed under:
*Purchasing by Steve Bagshaw

Following on from yesterday’s blog theme, ‘how to improve employee self esteem’, here’s another approach. Accountancy firm Ernst & Young is reportedly piloting a new holiday scheme to attract and retain staff that allows employees to choose how much holiday they take each year. According to City A.M. the firm is running a number of [...]

Filed under:
*Purchasing by Steve Bagshaw

This article from Fortune magazine says that many new employees feel disenfranchised by not getting a set of business cards or personal e-mail address. The author claims that by making these tiny investments in the self-worth of employees pays off when trying to recruit and retain staff. Could the answer to increasing the importance of [...]

Filed under:
*Purchasing by Steve Bagshaw

Five years ago we reported on the fall-out following the last “foot and mouth” crisis that hit Britain. In the wake of the problems caused in 2001, the Road Haulage Association set up some emergency plans for its members to avoid the problems of contaminated transport and red tape that lost logistics firms money and [...]

Filed under:
*Purchasing by Steve Bagshaw

What time do you finish work today? If you are anything like the examples highlighted in this story, you are switching off by lunchtime. A survey by Employersafe said this kind of absenteeism is costing UK business more than £50 million a year. How do you like to wind down and relax on a Friday [...]

Filed under:
*Purchasing by Steve Bagshaw