The implications of two recent headlines appear to have escaped the procurement profession’s attention. One news story was the UK government expects to save more than £5 billion this year after a round of “tough contract negotiations” with suppliers. The other was that according to the National Fraud Authority, procurement fraud is costing the public sector £2.3 billion. (more…)
This Supply Management article regarding bribery and bullying of public sector purchasers in Western Australia failed to pique my interest at first glance. Does anyone even know what a camcorder these days is? Can’t an iPhone take its place?
I felt a little sympathy for these staff, having to contend with these meagre bribes when their corrupt counterparts in the private sector are offered diamond necklaces for the wife, large cash deposits into Grand Cayman accounts and first class trips to Paris. (more…)
No one in the procurement and supply management profession could have failed to notice the UK Bribery Act coming into force last month. In the UK, we often pride ourselves on being world leaders in good governance and upholding the law as we pore over news stories of astonishing scandals of bribery and corruption in other countries. We regard ourselves as lucky that we do not have to live by the same rules for business as others do. (more…)
Most organisations – public and private – have been subject to a cost-cutting drive for the past couple of years or so now.
There’s been extra focus and pressure on procurement to produce savings of course, but outside of purchasing everyone’s felt the impact of the need for greater efficiency.
But while most have found themselves having to do a whole lot more with a whole lot less (money, staff, time), there are always some who think only of themselves. I’m talking about those employees who put in suspect expenses claims to boost their salary or cover costs they consider justifiable to charge the company for. (more…)
Here’s a little reminder (if you needed one) why buyers must keep a close eye on suppliers.
US government procurement staff were duped into awarding $834 million (£511 million) of military contracts to a supplier because they believed 75 per cent of the charity’s work was carried out by blind or severely disabled individuals. (more…)
Today is International Anti-Corruption Day. The UN designated it so seven years ago to raise awareness of sleaze and the role of the United Nations Convention against Corruption in preventing it. It wants all states to sign and ratify the convention as soon as possible. (more…)
Imagine a road paved with truffles. Or a street lined with fur coats. Or a river of cognac. No, not a Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory for adults, but what the Russian government might as well have had built instead of a normal road in the town of Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. (more…)
Every now and then a news story comes along that makes me question if ethics are alive or dead. Let’s talk about Sarah Ferguson and the “cash for access” scandal.
For me three things stick out about the story. First, the Duchess of York knew what she was doing was inadvisable because she asked for reassurance that the person she was doing the deal with wasn’t from the News of the World. (more…)
As the newbie on the SM team, I’m still discovering the ins and outs of procurement, and there is evidently a lot to learn. One of the first things that became clear, however, was that bribery is, sadly, commonplace in Africa. (more…)
Is David Safavian the most famous buyer in the world?
Banged up for a year, his professional reputation damaged irrevocably, it was all once so rosy for him.
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