The Procurement Value Proposition

This book provides the background, context, and strategy needed by procurement organizations and individuals at any point in their evolution. Add to this numerous visual aids, case studies, and facilitation tools, and you have a book that clearly illustrates how to actively expand and demonstrate procurement's value.

The world of Procurement and Supply Chain is bereft of people with the ability to truly challenge the status quo and force us to take a new perspective on what we see as the 'givens' in the supply side world. Gerard is one of the few and I have always valued his counsel and am pleased he has now committed some of this knowledge to paper. What's incredibly insightful about this work is how it is already becoming clear in London where the challenges of population growth, demographic changes, global risks and the explosion in the use of mobile are already present in our everyday lives as well as through our suppliers. My final reflection is the need to shift from cost to value and from bureaucrats to entrepreneurs, the supply side world is full of opportunity and unless we have the talent to see these we will not break free from the dogma of 'cost down' is king.

The book's authors also make their own contribution to tackle the challenges of the future, the ACE model. ACE stands for aspiration, capability and execution, and the book highlights the danger when these three elements are not aligned in an organisation. The authors have also included a list of issues raised, such as talent development, risk management and sustainable procurement, with detailed advice on how to structure your own debates on these topics.

The publication is comprehensive, considered, and a catalyst for performance improvement towards excellence. It is leadership, economics, and it is 21st Century business. The academic rigour and consultancy language is well punctuated with case studies and examples. There are few, if any throw away remarks, as the text is anchored by reference to leading thinking and proven management techniques. Accessibility is only available to those who wish to think, to learn and to be open to something fresh and challenging - it is not business as usual.

As the pressures on modern enterprise continue to increase, supply chain and procurement executives must deliver faster turnarounds, higher profits, and decreased costs, as dictated by senior management. This book helps practitioners and business leaders advance their strategic understanding of how procurement can deliver business value by covering trends including sustainability, technological advances, geopolitical and macroeconomic changes, developments in procurement strategies, and changing business platforms and cultures.