A global view
23 May 2008 | Steve Bagshaw
Having attended three purchasing conferences on three different continents (Europe, America and Africa) in the past six weeks, I have not been surprised that all buyers around the world are dealing with the same kind of issues.
Lack of profile, sustainability, changing economic conditions and global sourcing have been topics at all three events, with best practice advice being very similar in each case.
Is purchasing now a truly global function, or do local cultures and customs still rule the roost?
![[Bloglines]](http://blog.supplymanagement.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/bloglines.png)
![[del.icio.us]](http://blog.supplymanagement.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://blog.supplymanagement.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://blog.supplymanagement.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Google]](http://blog.supplymanagement.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[LinkedIn]](http://blog.supplymanagement.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/linkedin.png)
![[Twitter]](http://blog.supplymanagement.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
As practitioners, we firmly believe that purchasing is a global function. In real life, it is not.
Unlike other long-standing professions, say, engineering, accounting, medicine and pharmacy, purchasing has always been treated as generalist rather than specialist. It is probably due to no unique panecea for our profession. We have to adapt ourselves to the trade we are in. Some people claim that purchasing is a dispensable job, not profession. Their argument is experience can train up anyone who is involved in purchasing and supplies matters in any company. This is in fact true. Experience is our asset. If we say purchasing is recognised all over the world, we should be called “purchasist”. There should be a unique name. I am sure that this is what we want. We hate others just call us buyers, purchasers, supply administrators or purchasing administrators. In their mind, we are housekeepers.
Even worse is companies tend to outsource purchasing to cut costs. If we are really global functions, we shall be indispensable. There is a long way ahead before our dream comes true. Anyway, we got the royal charter only in 1992. Other professions are profound.
I am sure all of us share these views.
I think you are looking more at whether procurement is a profession or just a job or role.
Procurement is definitely global. Wherever you are in the world, you will find industry, manufacturing, retail. These all need goods and services procured. Whether that is done by an experienced and trained “procurement professional” or someone who just uses on the job training to get by, it is still procurement.
Supply Management have recently done specials on China and Saudi Arabia. Australian firms are trying to attract buyers to the country.
There will always be differences due to local customs and practices, but that is something that we were taught to understand, respect and use on the CIPS diploma. But wherever people use goods or services, there will be someone there who is responsible for buying them.