Tag Archives: SRM

Rigour, reward & constancy of purpose in SRM

“You know, implementing our SRM programme,” said a colleague at the recent CIPS Annual Dinner in London “has been incredibly hard.  Just when we seem to be making progress, word comes down from on high that we must demand immediate … Continue reading

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Four Pillars interviewed for Times SCM supplement

This month The Times published Supply Chain 2012, a 16-page supplement on the big issues and trends facing those involved in procurement and supply chain. The report covered procurement, risk, collaboration, SRM, logistics, sustainability and finance, with David Atkinson commenting … Continue reading

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What? No Targets?

Since the financial crises hit us all in 2008, we’ve seen stretching cost reduction demands on most procurement organisations and in every sector. The gung-ho optimists say this is a time when procurement can make its mark, while the sceptics … Continue reading

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Defining SRM

Clients often tell me they start out confused about what is meant by SRM – supplier relationship management. Is it about emotionally intelligent collaboration? Contract management? Performance management? Supplier development? Or something more aspirational, like ‘alliance-building’? For another definition, how … Continue reading

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No corporate hospitality please, we’re British

The Bribery Act 2010 came into force this week and has been well covered in SM with the Act throwing corporate hospitality into the spotlight. Despite the expectations of some, the Act remains vague in respect of where the line … Continue reading

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Seven rules for involving senior management

Many supplier managers have aspirations to put their senior leaders in front of the supplier’s directors and VPs. This is often difficult to set up, not least because the perceptions of strategic importance can be very different depending on which … Continue reading

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Who owns the supplier relationship?

The other day I responded to a question from someone in my network who was interested in whether “ownership” of particular suppliers is defined by the sector the buyer is operating in – as if some sectors have a magic … Continue reading

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Government may be exchanging more than it plans to

The Cabinet Office is once again making the news with its Commercial Interchange Programme where suppliers – large and small – can develop closer ties with government by both parties seconding staff into each other’s domains. The idea is that … Continue reading

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It’s Year End – time for the emergency supplier conference

As we approach year end for many organisations, procurement leaders can be forgiven for their anxiety as the deadline looms for the cashing-in of all those cost-reduction initiatives planned and launched earlier in the year. The early year optimism has … Continue reading

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Make SRM your priority for 2012

How encouraging it is to see SRM and Risk Management being recognised amongst the main levers of procurement’s business contribution in this month’s News Focus – Supply Management 2011 Reader Research The responses of 3000 professionals identified SRM as the … Continue reading

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