For me, one of the big failures of London 2012 was to get to grips effectively with some of the ethical issues in the supply chain (despite some leading-edge work from LOCOG) and to address the question of ethical standards for sponsors. (more…)
This is my last blog for SM (I am off to a new job next week), so I thought I would share my experience of procurement from what I have learned over the past few months.
Yesterday a colleague and I were talking about ‘psychological illusionist’ Derren Brown, who is currently in the second year of his Svengali tour. (more…)
The start of a new year is a fine time to consider an overview of purchasing – if only for a sanity check. It’s time to dust off that old handbook, determine what is relevant and which practices can be replaced. (more…)
Challenges in the global economy mean public and private sector organisations are putting a relentless focus on cost efficiencies. This has placed the procurement function in many businesses in the spotlight as a source of expertise to deliver cost savings. This has raised the profile of procurement professionals, but is this new status permanent or is it a flash in the pan? (more…)
After ringing in 2012 last weekend, you’ve probably set personal new year’s resolutions – and may have already veered from the course. Just like many resolutions, procurement too is charged with ‘trimming the fat’ but thankfully cutting costs is a little bit more attainable than cutting the waistline. (more…)
I’d hazard a guess that your answer could be loosely classified as either being: achievement, affiliation or power-orientated.
As many of you who read my blogs here on Supply Management will be able to surmise, I’m motivated more by affiliation than achievement. That is more influenced by harmony, understanding others, team work and rapport than success, goal setting, results and effectiveness. (more…)
Procurement has to fight very hard to get a seat at the table in many organisations so it is demotivating to see our own behaviour drive us further away from our business. So what should we avoid doing to make sure we don’t ruin our chances? (more…)
Last week,David Cameron said the time had come for public figures to teach “right from wrong” and questioned whether the Church of England had done enough to defend those in the face of the “moral neutrality” that pervades modern life.
Procurement as a discipline also has a unique opportunity to ensure that the commerce, finance and the contractual acumen of the purchasing process addresses values and morals. (more…)
Research from Barclays Corporate out today suggests that in the next 10 years the amount of money spent via mobile phones will rise from the £1.3 billion it is today to £19.3 billion by 2021. (more…)
My role with the London Olympics finally came to an end in March with a final report, a bit of a party and a few last words on a blog. Since the closure of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012, I have had a bit more time to reflect on some of my other work.![[Bloglines]](http://blog.supplymanagement.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/bloglines.png)
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