In the next issue of Supply Management, out tomorrow – Featured Articles The Future of Procurement – The first SM thought leadership debate on what the future holds for the profession. Frank exchange – KPN CPO Willem van Oppen on how procurement turned round the Dutch telecoms firms Leadership by example – New CIPS president [...]
A survey carried out by the Financial Times has found that more than half of workers think they are overqualified for the job they are doing. It has led to claims that lots of staff are not being used to their full potential, and the trend a result of the higher number of graduates now [...]
So Gap has become the latest high-profile organisation to face accusations that its suppliers (or a subcontractor carrying out work on the supplier’s behalf) was using child labour. This is about the worst imaginable PR for a high street chain and Gap has been swift to act, launching an investigation, reiterating its opposition to child [...]
Our sister magazine FM World recently tried to boost the credibility of its profession with the mention of Facilities Management of TV shows Casualty and The Sopranos. Can the procurement profession do better than this? I remember defence procurement being the crux of recent BBC thriller State of Play. But the best example must be [...]
This week a reader asked SM: I have just transferred to a logistics function as a planner and my first task is to set up key performance indicators (KPIs) for the warehouse, purchasing and shipping departments. What should I consider? What do you think?
Richard Tadman’s soapbox piece in the current issue of SM seems to have generated some comment within the profession about the behaviour of buyers. “My eyes have been opened by members of our profession who do us no credit at all,” he says. “I am shocked by the callous and rigid manner in which some [...]
BT’s decision to build its own wind farms marks a departure for traditional procurement approach to sustainability. Why not just cut out the suppliers entirely and do it yourself? Fortunately for BT they have the purchasing and people to power to make this work. But could it be a viable alternative for other firms? Is [...]
In the latest issue of SM we profile all the winners of this year’s SM/CIPS awards, who they are and what they did to achieve the accolade. We have been told that winning an award makes a huge difference to both the teams and the individuals that receive them. It boosts morale, assists with internal [...]
As the “war for talent” rages on in the profession, it’s necessary for companies to separate candidates by unique methods. Why not try some of the questions they ask potential candidates coming to work at Google, as posted in this blog? Examples include: • How many golf balls can fit in a school bus?• [...]
This week a reader asked SM: I manage the training and development activities for a local authority. I’ve been asked by the procurement director to conduct a skills analysis for both full-time and part-time purchasers. Where do I start? Can you offer any suggestions?
