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Jon Hansen Articles

Written by: Jon Hansen

In the Year 2020 . . . Process - Click To Read Article
As posted this past past Friday, each day this week I will be providing my take on the top 5 predictions for the year 2020 from Bob Lohfeld’s July 7th Washington Technology article aptly named 5 predictions for the 2020 market. Today we tackle prediction number 3, process.

In the Year 2020 . . . Technology - Click To Read Article
As posted this past past Friday, each day this week I will be providing my take on the top 5 predictions for the year 2020 from Bob Lohfeld’s July 7th Washington Technology article aptly named 5 predictions for the 2020 market. Today we tackle prediction number 4, technology.

In the Year 2020 . . . Workforce - Click To Read Article
As posted this past past Friday, each day this week I will be providing my take on the top 5 predictions for the year 2020 from Bob Lohfeld’s July 7th Washington Technology article aptly named 5 predictions for the 2020 market. Today we tackle prediction number 2, the workforce.

Is supplier incumbency a major problem with government contracting? - Click To Read Article
When you consider the fact that a good many government procurement experts - including those involved with the procurement process itself, have routinely suggested that 90% of all contract winners are decided before an RFP is actually issued (check out the Al Gordon interview under the Videos Tab of this Portal), one cannot help but wonder if it is worthwhile to pursue opportunities for which there is an already established relationship with an incumbent supplier.

In the Year 2020 . . . Government Market - Click To Read Article
As posted this past past Friday, each day this week I will be providing my take on the top 5 predictions for the year 2020 from Bob Lohfeld’s July 7th Washington Technology article aptly named 5 predictions for the 2020 market.

2020 Predictions interesting, but are they an accurate reflection of what is to come? - Click To Read Article
Okay, I admit it! While I had originally planned to write about Free and Open Source Software or FOSS in the public sector this week (a topic that has been of great personal interest), it seems that there are just too many rich stories out there to share that have a much broader appeal.

Whether Terrorists or Hooligans the End Result is Still The Same Mess - Click To Read Article
Last week's Panel discussion regarding the May 18th bombing of the Royal Bank branch at the corner of First and Bank in the Glebe brought to light many interesting insights including the consensus that this was not a terrorist act but an act of vandalism perpetrated by disaffected youths - probably from the neighborhood. That said the resulting consequences are nonetheless quite real in that there was both extensive property damage to the bank's branch, as well as a "tightening of security" that John Baglow said would lead to a tougher crackdown on legitimate protesters at the actual G8 and G20 Summits at the end of June. With the estimated costs of security rising from what now appears to be a modest $179 million allocation in March to an estimated $930 million today, does the G8 and G20 Summits really matter?

Twittering Money Away: API Service Review of Twitter Counter - Click To Read Article
Under the headline from their "Featured" web page, Twitter Counter boldly states “Become a featured user and gain more followers.” “One of Twitter’s biggest problems . . . I am researching services such as Twitter Counter’s Feature, and in this second round of testing found that a great majority of those who are following are the Ruby Bells and Tia Marias and Angelina Jollies . . . I think you get my drift . . . get in the game Twitter Counter it is not the number of followers but the quality of followers that count!”

What is a reasonable cost model for providing a 3PL warehouse management service (Survey Result 2) - Click To Read Article
What is a reasonable cost model for providing a 3PL warehouse management service and how would it best be structured to hit the key points with both the logostics and finance executives?

What type of Corporate Social Responsibility and/or Environmental Sustainability programs are you implementing in your Sourcing organization? - Click To Read Article
I am interested in learning more about CSR or ES programs being implemented in service sector supply chain. Pete DeBruin, Director - Sourcing Technology, Boston, U.S.

Spend Analysis versus Spend Intelligence: More Than a Semantical Difference - Click To Read Article
I believe the phrase "spend intelligence" to be misleading. To me, it sounds like a new take or sub-segment of business intelligence software applications which offer analytics and dashboard capabilities and sit on top of existing systems of record. The problem is that spend visibility and analytics is much more complex, requiring data cleansing, rationalization, classification and other efforts which go far beyond what is needed to gain insight into basic HR, financials, IT and other internal information, which fall cleanly in to the BI camp.

The Web 2.0 Association: A Dynamic Engagement Between Stakeholders Sharing The Same Interests And Goals (Canadian Public Procurement Council Profile) - Click To Read Article
Traditional membership models for many associations have become somewhat stagnate in that they are not effectively aligned with the emerging Web 2.0 world of dynamic engagement between stakeholders sharing the same interests and goals. According to CPPC-CCMP President Kathleen Muretti, recognizing and responding to this changing landscape is a key tenet of her council’s value proposition.

Strategic Sourcing Practices in Higher Education - Click To Read Article
Defining Strategic Sourcing Strategic sourcing is the process of leveraging buying power, reducing the number of suppliers, verifying vendor compliance to negotiated agreements, and reducing the number of procurement transactions and cycle times. The idea is that, in evaluating opportunities to outsource, organizations can drive down unit costs and purchase commodities at the lowest possible cost of ownership. Rethinking Processes: Reducing Costs and Maximizing Resources in Education Strategic Sourcing Report by The Center for Digital Education, 2004

Is There a Difference Between Purchasing and Procurement? (A PI Q&A) - Click To Read Article
Network Member Question As far as I know, sometimes the terms “purchasing” and “procurement” can be used as the same meaning. But in many cases it seems that both have different boundaries or meanings. So what is really the meaning behind the terms? Kurt Binh Owner, SCM Vietnam – Supply Chain and Logistics Consulting Viet Nam

Oracle launches sourcing software on demand: Why market adaptability may ultimately derail the transition (Part 2) - Click To Read Article
In this second of our two part review of the April 9 announcement by Oracle that they are now going to offer their Strategic Sourcing and Sourcing Optimization applications on a Software as a Service (SaaS) or on-demand basis, I will focus on the more technical elements of their decision. Specifically, the potentially devastating “weak links” within their current offering that may create an unbridgeable chasm to market acceptance.

Is There a Difference Between a Material Requisition and a Purchase Requisition? (A PI Q&A) - Click To Read Article
Network Member Question Can anyone advise me of the difference between a material requisition and purchase requisition? Manal Al-Asousi Manager, Operations & Projects Development – Kazema Global Holding Co. Kuwait

Similarity Hueristics, Iterative Methodologies and the Emergence of the Modern Supply Chain - Click To Read Article
Some professions, such as software developers, regularly utilize the similarity heuristic. For software developers, the similarity heuristic is utilized when performing debugging tasks. A software bug exhibits a set of symptoms indicating the existence of a problem. In general, similar symptoms are caused by similar types of programming errors. By comparing these symptoms with those of previously corrected software flaws, a developer is able to determine the most probable cause and take an effective course of action. Over time, a developer’s past experiences will allow their use of the similarity heuristic to be highly effective, quickly choosing the debugging approach that will likely reveal the problem’s source. Definition from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Supplemental Material Double Marginalization and the Point of Ideal Price Viability - Click To Read Article
I have received a number of e-mails regarding my August 10th posting (Double Marginalization and the Point of Ideal Price Viability) requesting clarification of my theory. In line with the old saying that a “picture is worth a thousand words,” the following graph will hopefully illustrate the basis for my conclusions. (NOTE: due to space limitations I am not able to incorporate the actual graph into this posting. To obtain a copy of the graph send me an e-mail at jhansen@procureinsights.com with “Graph” in the subject line.)

How does the complexity theory apply to business? (A Brief Dialogue) - Click To Read Article
Member Question: Has anyone applied complexity theory to business in a practical way? Asheville, U.S. My Response: The chaos theory and butterfly effect are interesting concepts in terms of the “complexity” of business. Over a number of years and through funding from the Government of Canada’s Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Program I developed a theory called strand commonality. In the area of supply chain practice for example (although the term “chain” is a misnomer in that it implies a sequential architecture instead of the synchronized architecture that represents the dynamic characteristics of different stakeholders within the real-world), one seeks to understand the unique operating attributes of individual stakeholders using an agent-based model.

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 10) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

Competent Jerk versus Lovable Fool? (Network Member Question) - Click To Read Article
Member Question: Given a choice between a competent jerk and a lovable fool, who would you prefer to work with? Question Submitted By: Sandeep Walia MIS Manager, International Supply Chain L'OREAL France

Double Marginalization and the Decentralized Supply Chain - Click To Read Article
Double marginalization is defined as the “exercise of market power at successive vertical layers in a supply chain.” Dating back to Lerner (1934) the problem that arises as a result of double marginalization is tied to an impetus to mark up the product’s price above marginal cost. According to a 2005 Caltech paper (Vertical Integration of Successive Monopolists: A Classroom Experiment) the sequence of mark-ups “leads to a higher retail price and lower combined profit for the supply chain than would arise if the firms were vertically integrated.”

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 19) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

Is Canada really rich in natural resources?: Calculating the effects of Foreign Ownership - Click To Read Article
In Toronto, CBC business reporter Jeannie Lee said there is a great deal at stake for Canada — and especially for southern Ontario, where Canada's steel industry is concentrated and where the global slump has already gutted the auto industry. Canadian steel plants produced almost 16 million tonnes of steel in 2007, employing about 32,000 people and, by one estimate, supporting 140,000 indirect jobs, she said. from "Buy American" rule in U.S. stimulus bill could cost Canada jobs, CBC News (January 29th, 2009)

The Socially Responsible Procurement Practice: Moving Beyond Social Consciousness (enterprising non-profits Profile) - Click To Read Article
“The question this raises is quite simply what set of circumstances will elevate green procurement from a nice to do “boutique” status to a more meaningful (and essential) element of a sound purchasing strategy? At the risk of answering my own question, I do not think that green procurement in and of itself will achieve this status, nor do I believe that it is a reasonable goal.

Public Sector Procurement and the Wal-Mart Effect - Click To Read Article
In Part 4 of my Changing Face of Procurement conference series titled Winning Strategies for Vendor Engagement I ask attendees the question; “is your current e-procurement initiative a threat or a benefit to your supply base?” While the answer is of course important, what is of greater significance is whether or not your organization has even considered the impact its current strategy is having on these important external stakeholders.

Is the Government of Canada's Shared Services Strategy a Threat to Small Business (Survey Result 2) - Click To Read Article
Many key stakeholders both within and external to the Government of Canada (GoC) see a shared services strategy as a threat to the Small-Medium Enterprise community? Do you believe that the current GoC shared services is a threat? If yes, why? If no, why?

Outcry Over Section 116 Clearance Certificates: Legitimate Barrier for Foreign Investment Firms or Convenient Scapegoat? - Click To Read Article
New York, October 12, 2009 – Just 17 venture capital funds raised $1.6 billion in the third quarter of 2009, according to Thomson Reuters and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). This level represents the smallest number of venture funds raising money in a single quarter since the third quarter of 1994 when 17 funds were also raised and the lowest level of dollars committed since the first quarter of 2003 when $938 million was raised.

The Bands of Public Sector Supplier Engagement - Click To Read Article
“To really leverage vendor partnerships, solution providers need an in. For the public sector, that entre has to go beyond the program to the individual behind it who understands the market nuances and challenges that can hold partners back.” From the article 25 Public-Sector Channel Leaders (ChannelWeb Network, March 19, 2007) In one simple statement within the confines of a single article there has never been a better or more succinct explanation of what plagues public sector procurement practice today. Especially in the area of supplier development and engagement!

When responding to RFI/RFQ requests what's the biggest obstruction a supply chain project manager can face? - Click To Read Article
Network Member Question When responding to RFI/RFQ requests what's the biggest obstruction a supply chain project manager can face? Thom Spencer Recruitment & Human Resources Consultant and Contractor Wakefield, UK

What is the next Hot module coming up in SAP? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: What is the next Hot module coming up in SAP I am in the field of SAP for the past 4 years in the technical field focussed more on conversion, I want to move to functional area and want to know what is the emerging Hot module in SAP which holds promise in the market.

What is a reasonable cost model for providing a 3PL warehouse management service (Survey Result 3) - Click To Read Article
What is a reasonable cost model for providing a 3PL warehouse management service and how would it best be structured to hit the key points with both the logostics and finance executives?

What is a reasonable cost model for providing a 3PL warehouse management service (Survey Result 1) - Click To Read Article
What is a reasonable cost model for providing a 3PL warehouse management service and how would it best be structured to hit the key points with both the logostics and finance executives?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chainpurchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 2) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 15) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 20) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 12) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

Are There Differences Between B2B and B2C Transactions in Terms of Customer Satisfaction (A PI Q&A) - Click To Read Article
Reader Question: Which components determine customer (dis)satisfaction in a B2B and B2C environment, and what are the greatest differences between these two environments concerning customer (dis)satisfaction? My Response: This is an extremely broad question as there are numerous elements that contribute to customer satisfaction. Given that we are discussing an electronic transaction, in which automation is a core element, the key to automating any process is to “free the data from the document.” According to Bankers Online (http://www.bankersonline.com/), true electronic transactions (including approvals) are 75% less expensive than a paper-based process.

What are the three biggest challenges suppliers face in their efforts to win government business? - Click To Read Article
Being well into the 7-Part "Seven Steps to Success: Jump Start Government Contracts Series," with expert author Judy Bradt on the PI Window on Business Show on Blog Talk Radio, the launch of the Public Sector Suppliers Forum on LinkedIn and of course the Essential Connections Blog, we seem to have touched on a hot topic that has been simmering for some time. Specifically, the disconnect between the tremendous opportunities afforded companies through government contracting, and the practical realization of said opportunities for the majority of suppliers.

Pew Survey indicates that blogging has lost its lustre, but do you agree? - Click To Read Article
Earlier this week I received an e-mail from a fellow host on the Blog Talk Radio Network in which the link to a February 21st article in the Music Industry News Network titled "Social Media and Young Adults" was included. The article made reference to “Two Pew Internet Project surveys,” that revealed a noticeable “decline in blogging among teens and young adults,” and a “modest rise among adults 30 and older.” My associate thought that I would find this interesting in that besides posting between 2 to 4 articles on 4 (and soon to be 6) blogs each week, she was interested in getting my take on these findings as I have been a strong proponent of the important synergy between maintaining a blog in conjunction with one’s BTR show.

Privatizing Multi-Transactional Supplier Platforms Within the Public Sector (Part 2) - Click To Read Article
I can recall negotiating a mutli-million dollar contract renewal and being relieved that my organization held an important advantage in that we had developed and owned the growing supply base that was necessary for the third-party provider to meet the delivery and price requirements for a key government client. When I talk about owning the supply base, this included the corresponding intelligence, as well as the technology to maintain its veracity and relevance on a real-time, real-world basis.

Latest Government of Canada Scandal Belies the Very Prinicples Associated with Effective Purchasing Practices - Click To Read Article
In the opening comments from a recent segment of the PI Window on Business Show in which I had interviewed government contracting expert and author Mark Amtower, I had made reference to the famous Louis Pasteur quote that “Chance favors the prepared mind.” I would of course have to admit that I found myself reflecting on its validation as an axiom during a conversation with one of the top investigative reporters in the country, Kathryn May regarding a story that “broke” yesterday on the pages of the Globe & Mail.

Is the U.S. Government or a competitor in charge of the Congressional hearings involving Toyota - Click To Read Article
Today's Business Thought Leaders segment with author and industry expert Bill Michels was incredible. Of the several noteworthy observations Michels provided, his revelation that the current Congressional hearings regarding the Toyota recall has the Japanese manufacturer actually giving testimony before a competitor raises a number of red flags. The moment that the U.S. Government became a majority owner of General Motors through its $30 billion “investment,” hearings such as the one involving Toyota are no longer arms length. In short, if a conflict arose in a judicial hearing where the judge and the defendant had a similar-type relationship to the one between the U.S. Government and Toyota, the judge would have to step down in the interests of justice.

Interactive Intelligence in Real-Time: The ADR Academy's New Adaptive Learning Program - Click To Read Article
“Companies are scrambling to keep the skills of their buyers and supply managers up to the task of responding to wildly fluctuating costs and availability of key supplies. They need high quality training courses that are easily and instantly available,” said ADR North America CEO Bill Michels, C.P.M. “The ADR Academy fills that need with nine key courses that anyone can take if they have Internet access and a credit card.”

Does the Present Buy American AccordBy-Pass Popular Opinion Relative to Protectionism - Click To Read Article
In the October 1st, 2009 Procurement Insights post titled “Buy American Policy: Economic Imperative or Popular Opinion,” I provided an excerpt from my interview with Canada’s Trade Minister Stockwell Day regarding the basis for the Buy American policy. It was of course the Minister’s expressed belief that popular American opinion surrounding protectionism was the basis for Congressional support of the conditions associated with the stimulus bill that would block Canadian firms from accessing the US government market, versus the existence of legitimate economic imperatives. In short, the U.S. Congress was yielding to public sentiments.

A Revenue Positive Business Model in Public Sector Purchasing (Part 1) - Click To Read Article
The core “philosophy” behind the New Public Management or “NPM” concept (which has been part of the government lexicon since the 1980s), is the belief that a “market orientation in the public sector will lead to greater cost-efficiency for governments, without having negative side effects on other objectives and considerations.” While there may be merit in the NPM vision, in reality its practical implementation has for the most part been sidetracked into an imitate versus innovate approach. Specifically, the philosophy has been reduced to one of using the same technological platforms and methodologies in the public sector as the ones used in the private sector.

Move Into China By Emptoris A Bold Act Based On Solid Research, or A Reckless Gamble Based on Global Market Share Aspirations? - Click To Read Article
Chinese enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendors have been able to defend the challenge from global ERP leaders such as SAP and Oracle. This article seeks possible reasons for major international ERP vendors not being able to dominate the Chinese ERP market. Taking an ensemble view of technology, we conceptualize ERP systems as being embedded in complex social contexts, which heavily influence ERP implementation and use. Based on this conceptualization, we contend that a historical perspective and a social-cultural perspective can offer a rich understanding on ERP implementations in China.

What Is Truth? - Click To Read Article
I found myself recently engaged in a discussion which centered around the question "what is truth?" An interesting question which poses many risks in terms of providing an answer. When I refer to risks, I am of course talking about the polar opposite exercise of earnestly pursuing too deep a philosophical debate that accomplishes little more than inflaming personal passions or, conversely, falling into a whimsical irreverence that is reminiscent of the Bill Cosby "why is there air" routine.

The Company You Keep . . . - Click To Read Article
As the release date for my new book in which I examine "The Unsociable Business of Social Networks" through the vantage point of the So Act Network quickly approaches, I thought that I would provide you with a brief excerpt from Chapter 5 titled "The Company You Keep . . ."

Pepsi's Sugar, Childhood Obesity and Twitter's Swiss Cheese - Click To Read Article
Having just concluded my second book (which will be released in February), I found it an enjoyable change of pace to once again cover the diverse and at times thought-provoking headlines from the world of social media. While I must admit that I first heard the news of the Pepsi throwback beverage in which the company announced that it would once again use "real" sugar in its flagship and Mountain Dew brands on the NFL Channel on TV, the social media factor was quite notable.

Is Tiger Out of the Woods Yet Interview Stesses the Importance of a Properly Aligned Brand - Click To Read Article
Yesterday evening I had the privilege of being a guest on Anthony Quinones' "Your Point of Q" (use the On-Demand Player below to access the interview in its entirety). The focus of the discussion was on whether Tiger Woods' biggest challenges are still ahead of him, including the corresponding impact on Woods "the person" and Woods "the brand."

Anesthetized Parenting: Today's Version of "Children Should Be Seen and Not Heard?" - Click To Read Article
On Friday's PI Window on Business, guest host Jim Bouchard will be talking with insightful and controversial "Your Kids Are Your Own Fault" author Larry Winget. While I have no doubt that the discussion will be one of the more memorable one's in the show's young history, the research into the subject matter has proven to be equally thought-provoking on many levels.

Complexity of Issues Regarding the Regulation of the Natural Health Product Industry Likely Tied to Basic Issues - Click To Read Article
This Wednesday's segment of the PI Window on Business "Doing What Comes Naturally: Are Natural Health Products Being Held to a Higher Standard?" in which I interview NHPPA President Shawn Buckley regarding the controversial Bill C-6 that poses two potential threats to the industry's survival in Canada, promises to be one of the most thought provoking.

Your Saturday Smile: Sparky's Revenge (How To Build Your Own Wildlife Preserve) - Click To Read Article
Indulge me this morning and take a journey back in time with me. It is the mid-sixties and my father (who works at a local meat packing plant) is a wise man who knows how to manage his money, providing for his family of six living in a two-bedroom bungalow.

Tiger Feeding Frenzy Reminds Me Of Nixon Quote - Click To Read Article
As I watched the panoply of media descending on the Tiger Woods story like a Saharan dust storm I was immediately reminded of a quote in which Richard Nixon standing before a picture of John F. Kennedy lamented, "when people look at you they see what they want to be . . . when they look at me they see what they are."

The CATA Press Release RE Their 116 Campaign: A Just Cause Lost in a Sea of Self-Serving Rhetoric - Click To Read Article
Canada's venture capital industry is in trouble. That industry is seriously underfunded, while Canada's emerging technology and life sciences companies are so capital-starved they risk being uncompetitive in the North American market. At the same time, much needed and sought after US capital that could richly fund that industry and those companies is being blocked by Canada's cross-border tax laws.

Shared Services and Outsourcing Network's The Year in Review and the Year Ahead - Click To Read Article
When I was recently contacted by SSON's Jamie Liddell to provide my thoughts on "The Year in Review " for 2009, as well as "The Year Ahead" in 2010, relating to shared services and outsourcing I must admit that there was no shortage of ideas and reference material.

Snakes in a Playpen: Why U.S. Policy Regarding H-1B and EB-5 Visas is Outdated and Ineffective - Click To Read Article
In an earlier post from the spring I had talked about the manner in which inspiration usually hit me in terms of ideas for the articles that ultimately find their way to the pages of this as well as other blogs. I had bemoaned the fact that at the time I had not yet incorporated into the creative process the practice of carrying a pen and paper, without which to jot down the ideas I found the exercise of remembering these flashes of inspiration tantamount to the old Larson cartoon with the playpen of snakes.

Local Television: A Question of Relevance in a Changing World - Click To Read Article
Like the once great pitcher whose fastball has lost some of its speed, or the boxer whose timing is a second or two slower than it once was, local television is also out of step with a world that is now dominated by citizen journalism and fast-paced individually driven social media venues.

Is the framework for an Avro Arrow type demise of the Natural Health Products industry in Canada being laid by Bill C-6? - Click To Read Article
As part of the series on Natural Health Care products and the Bill C-6 controversy, today’s post delves a little deeper into the key elements of the growing debate. (Note: Why is this important to the world of purchasing and supply chains? When the Avro Arrow program was canceled on February 20th, 1959, it immediately put "14,528 Avro employees out of work, as well as nearly 15,000 other employees in the Avro "supply chain" of outside suppliers.")

Intel, UNC's Coal Supply and Abbott's Bottles: When the Shoe is on the Other Foot - Click To Read Article
It was interesting in that as I was reading the story about Intel in which it is alleged that the company "Used bribery and coercion to maintain its dominance in the microprocessor market," I could not help but think that this was not the first time that the proverbial shoe was on the other foot in terms of the sometimes strained relationship between buyer and supplier.

Dialogue Regarding CATA Post Demonstrates the Productive Power of Social Media - Click To Read Article
Dialogue Regarding CATA Post Demonstrates the Productive Power of Social Media "116 Campaign" in which I referred to the effort as being self-serving despite a just cause inspired an interesting discussion that demonstrates the power of social media to engage and expand upon a train of thought. In fact I enjoyed the exchange with Sue so much that I felt it warranted sharing with you. So here here the unabridged version:

Barbara Walters' comments regarding Tiger Woods situation worth noting - Click To Read Article
Yesterday evening I had the opportunity for the first time in quite awhile to watch David Letterman - the benefit of being a streak writer in that I was up at 3:00 AM and therefore caught the west coast telecast.

Are Shifting Rules and Government Investment in Canadian Firms the Real Obstacle to Foreign VC Funding? - Click To Read Article
Every time we make an investment in a Canadian company or do some sort of transaction with a Canadian company we have a whole set of "surprises" (and I put quotes around the word surprises) that we have to figure out each time, so there is always a new set, or different set of rules that we have to go through . . .

Accountability and Outcome is a Shared Responsibility in the RFP Process - Click To Read Article
It never fails to amaze me that given the amount of research which goes into the production of each PI Window on Business Show, there are always a number of new insights that come to light during the live broadcast. In fact this is one of the reasons why social media is so critical to the procurement profession, as it broadens the lens through which we can view a particular subject.

The Power of the Blog - Click To Read Article
My entry into social media was through the creation of the Procurement Insights Blog in May 2007. As of today it reaches more than 300,000 syndicated subscribers each month worldwide, and with more than 40 sponsors and growing it is the number one sponsored blog in its sector. Of course, none of this was planned as the reasons for creating the blog in the first place was to consolidate my various deadlines for the increasing number of publications for which I wrote either a column or articles on a regular basis. In short, I was able to create a single location from which the magazines could access the articles for distribution through their publication.

Socially Branded Journalism: Crossing the Generational Divide - Click To Read Article
On February 27th, 1968 Walter Cronkite closed his broadcast by introducing “an analysis that must be speculative, personal, [and] subjective.” He was of course talking about the Vietnam War, and in particular the Tet offensive. While those of us who have not yet cracked the half century mark in terms of years on this planet may have only a general awareness of what history has told us was a “police action” that could not be won, Cronkite’s words created a ripple effect that unknowingly and ironically has come to symbolize our fast paced, 7/24 instant access social media world.

Is There a Vaccine for Social Media? - Click To Read Article
With the upcoming segment "Socially Branded Journalism: Crossing the Generational Divide," in which I talk with Dr. John Tantillo regarding social media and the "personal branding" phenomenon's impact on the difference between opinion and research-based news, one cannot help but consider the ongoing debate regarding vaccination. It is an area in which after considerable personal research I believe remains a complex matter of competing truths and partial-truths where both sides of the issue are to a certain degree obfuscated by self-interest.

FTC Ruling RE Bloggers A Long Time Coming - Click To Read Article
In the June 11th PI Window on Business broadcast I asked a guest panel the question “Has Blogging Crossed The Threshold of Legitimacy?" As the segment description will tell you, the basis for asking the question in the first place was an AdAge.com article from April 13, 2009 titled “Bloggers Be Warned: FTC May Monitor What You Say, ” in which writer Michael Bush reported that “As part of its review of its advertising guidelines, the FTC is proposing that word-of-mouth marketers and bloggers, as well as people on social-media sites such as Facebook, be held liable for any false statements they make about a product they are promoting.”

Can Social Networks provide Emotional Wealth? - Click To Read Article
The following is a copy of my response to a blog post by Ecademy’s Thomas Power which asked the question, “Can Social Networks provide Emotional Wealth?"

Yes Virginia Revisited Why some eprocurement initiatives succeed and others dont - Click To Read Article
In a recent post that appeared in my Procurement Insights Blog titled The Ariba Interviews: Re-engineering the Future of On-Demand, I reviewed a series of interviews I had with a senior executive from Ariba as well as members from the company’s PR firm. Of the considerable feedback I received as a result of the posting the most interesting (and insightful) comments came from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Yes Virginia! There is more to e-procurement than software! (Part 1) - Click To Read Article
My recent post on the series of interviews I had with Ariba garnered considerable interest and feedback. By far the most interesting (and insightful) comments came from the Commonwealth of Virginia. What was compelling about the Virginia response was their willingness to provide a perspective from what they referred to as the “other side of the fence.” What was refreshing is that the subsequent interview revealed an extremely capable group of people whose passion for procurement was only rivaled by their commitment to a vision. A vision that was centered on gaining a thorough understanding of the processes that defined the Commonwealth’s procurement practice as well as the unique requirements of a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders.

With IBX Purchasing Isn’t Just A Business, It Is A Way Of Life! - Click To Read Article
“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence – that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” Mario Andretti, one of the most successful drivers in the history of auto racing

Will the Ghost of Harold Kutner Still Haunt the Corridors of the New GM? (Commentary) - Click To Read Article
In a May 15th, 2000 Business Week article Harold Kutner was referred to as an "old school purchasing guy with a reputation for playing hardball with suppliers." Amongst his heralded "accomplishments" at the time was the fact that he was the driving "force behind the auto industry's first e-marketplace for car makers and parts suppliers" (Covisint comes to mind here).

Why Six Sigma Initiatives Fail A PI Q and A - Click To Read Article
Member Question: What’s the #1 reason Six Sigma initiatives fail? (Maybe Six Sigma needs to be applied to Six Sigma . . . ?) My Response: At a Value Network Summit in 2007 Glenda Turner (a Supply Chain Integrator with Boeing) made the following statement; “Now that I know the value networks methodology, I would not consider doing a Six Sigma, lean or any other kind of project without first doing a VNA to provide the systems context for the initiative.”

Who will be the supply chain poster child in 5 to 10 years? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: Who will be the supply chain poster child in 5-10 years time? Dell => Walmart=> ? In the 90's it was Dell, in naughties it is Walmart, who is the next in line to emerge as the poster child in 5-10 years time? Where will Walmart be in this context?

While We Were Sleeping: A Story of Misdirected Efforts in the World of Public Sector Procurement Policy - Click To Read Article
It has been one of the more interesting weeks in the world of Government of Canada procurement policy-making. Despite the numerous “outward facing” storylines that can be pursued in terms of GoC activity, the real action (or lack thereof) is actually within the supplier community itself. I am of course referring to the ongoing inability of associations and lobbying groups to respond to government policy outside of the confines of a narrowly defined platform. A platform I would add in which the tempo is being set by the government.

What is the Value in your Supply Chain A PI Q and A - Click To Read Article
Member Question: What is the difference between Supply Chain and Value Chain? My Response: To begin, the reference to supply or “value” chain is a misnomer in that it implies a sequential architecture. This is a term that is on its way out as an organization’s supply “practice” is actually centered on the synchronization of diverse stakeholders sometimes spanning multiple supply networks. This is an important distinction given the impact that real-world synchronization has on theories such as value chains. That said the concept of the value chain was first introduced by Michael Porter in 1985 in his book, Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance.

What IT Systems Are Critical for a Retail Supply Chain? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: Before throwing open its doors for business, what critical IT systems should a retail chain have in place? How long can this process take?

What is the quickest way to get up to speed on supply chain management? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: What books or other resources can you recommend to a project and product manager who suddenly wants/needs to learn as much as possible about managing supply chains of diverse products? In the past, my role has involved only product development and marketing, not managing the flow of of raw materials from suppliers, managing inventory, delivery and so forth. I'd be grateful for any resource recommendations.

When outsourcing warehouse and distribution gets too inefficient and expensive what is the solution? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: When outsourcing warehouse and distribution gets too inefficient and expensive what is the solution? Rodrigo, Logistics Head Argentina

What is the best type of Graduate Degree for a Supply Chain Professional? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: What is more useful in terms of applicability for a young supply chain professional...an MBA or a Masters in Supply Chain Management? Ben, Logistics Engineer

What percentage of people that visit a site click through to purchase? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: How can a start up company predict the percentage of visitors that will click through to purchase? Does that percentage change when it gets to a certain threshold? Does it go up or down? Is there any way you can estimate over a year's time what the eye ball count will be? Allen, Marketing and Public Relations Toledo, U.S.

What kinds of information and technology is used in Supply Chain communication? - Click To Read Article
Network Member Question: What kinds of information is being sent across companies in a Supply Chain? And what technology is helping you with that? I have been reading more about SCM lately, and I was wondering what kinds of information is being sent across companies? Is it all numbers and values ? Or unstructured data as well ? And how is technology helping you to do this ? Do you share a specific platform across these companies? Or does every company has its own, and is this connected to one another ? Which software enables you to do so ? Question Submitted By: Marijn Somers Functional Analyst/Project Leader Belgium

What would you prefer for cost cutting, Offshoring or Process Improvement? (A PI Q&A) - Click To Read Article
Network Member Question It is quite common to jump on the bandwagon of offshoring to cut costs. Some are questioning the productivity of this approach. What do you think should be given more preference and how would you drive the implementation? Dr. Ravi Pandey Executive Coach, Management Consultant (Lean/DMAIC/DFSS, and Business, Product & Operations, Healthcare Transformation) Orlando, Florida

What’s In A Name? Everything! (Canadian Institute for Procurement and Materiel Management Profile) - Click To Read Article
Moving out of the shadows of adjunct functionality within the modern enterprise to a position of operational prominence and relevancy, at no other time has purchasing been viewed in the light of its own merits and overall impact on the individual organization and society as a whole.

What are the benefits of being the guest speaker at a business networking event? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: If I was looking to persuade someone to give a talk at my networking meeting how would I sell the idea to him/her? What's in it for them? I would love to hear from those of you who have had experience and benefits from presenting. Tracey, Success Coaching and Training Services

What are the most commom metrics used for Supply Chain? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: What are the most commom metrics used for Supply Chain? Francisco, Logistics and Supply Chain Professional Argentina

Virginia Ranked No 1 in U.S. Report - Does Canada Need a Similar Study? - Click To Read Article
In yet another example of the value of collaboration over compliance the Commonwealth of Virginia was ranked alongside the States of Washington and Utah as a top performer in the PEW Center’s Grading the States 2008 report. According to the PEW organization’s web site the report, which is designed to assess the “quality of management in the 50 states,” focuses on four key areas of government practice.

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 1) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 3) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 4) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 5) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 6) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 7) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 8) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 9) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 11) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 13) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 14) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 16) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 17) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 18) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 21) - Click To Read Article
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What can be the "next big thing" in supply chain management? - Click To Read Article
Network Member Question What can be the "next big thing" in supply chain management? Will it be technology-related (eg. new innovations, new IT solutions etc.) or more market-related (eg. changes in consumers demands and expectations forcing companies to adapt)? Are there any major differences in the SCM developments in different parts of the world? Eg. are European supply chains significantly different from American on Asian supply chains? Will it change in the future? Can we say that any part of the globe is developing faster than the others in terms of SCM maturity? Przemek Pietak Senior Consultant, Roland Berger Warsaw, Poland

Warehouse Intelligence Versus Warehouse Management The Baxter Advantage Baxter Planning Systems Profile - Click To Read Article
Network Member Question: “What is the best equation to prepare a costing for spare parts in an electronic repair center?” Baxter Answer (Mark Anderson, Vice President, Supply Chain Solutions): “I think we would need more precise information about your environment to offer specific pricing equations, so I’ll use this opportunity to talk in general about service parts. There are unique characteristics to service parts to be considered. First, there are the large number of parts (generally) that you will need to perform repair. There is also a unique pattern to demand of these items. In Pricing, consideration should be given to the criticaity of each part and the part’s lifecycle (new, growing, mature, phasing out, discontinued). Of course, pricing of your competitors is also a consideration.

Visual Requirement Definition: Establishing the Point for a Clear Commonality of Understanding - Click To Read Article
Visual Requirement Definition (VRD) can at first glance mean anything from being the test results from an eye exam to the specifications for the latest and greatest plasma high definition television. However, and in the context of my interview with Blueprint's Matt Morgan, and in particular his reference to a study which indicated that the human brain is geared more towards receiving information by way of visual input versus say the written word, the VRD concept quite nicely aligns with the old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words?

Vendor/consultant fees: Value for money? - Click To Read Article
IN MY RECENT TRAVELS presenting the Changing Face of Procurement conference series, a number of interesting trends began to emerge based on the feedback from the majority of those in attendance. Beside a growing cynicism in the "reports" that are published by organizations such as Aberdeen or Gartner, the most prevalent belief is that the cost for initiatives such as the recent $24 million spent in just 9 months by the federal government on AT Kearney are largely based on supporting the vendor's (or consultant's) sizeable infrastructure. In short, the costs are not a true reflection of the service, application or results vendors are providing. With a 75 to 85 percent rate of e-procurement initiative failure, it is hard to argue this point.

Undiscovered Diamonds for 2008: Finding the Acres of Diamonds in an Evolving Market (Certify Profile) - Click To Read Article
“For every acre of that old farm, yes, every shovelful, afterward revealed gems which since have decorated the crowns of monarchs.” From Acres of Diamonds by Russell H. Conwell

Using Press Releases as a Marketing Tool? - Click To Read Article
After all, when you consider the ubiquitous power of the Internet which enables anyone and everyone to step into the spotlight and espout the virtues of their product or service, the true value of a press release has become somewhat jaded.

The Value of the Certification Process A PI Q and A - Click To Read Article
The following is an interesting question that was submitted by an eSourcing and SCM Professional regarding the relevancy of the certification programs offered through a number of associations. Reader Question: In SCM, what is the relevance of certifications like APICS-CSCP? Raheel Ahmad eSourcing & SCM Professional India My Response: I actually just returned from a speaking engagement at the APICS Houston 6 Packed conference. While I both write and teach accredited courses for organizations such as the Purchasing Management Association of Canada (PMAC), this was my first event with APICS.

The Web 2.0 Association: Reader Response (CPPC-CCMP Profile) - Click To Read Article
Response to our recent sponsor profile articles is quite active with the posting on services procurement garnering more than 20 comments. As is our normal practice, I am more than pleased to share these comments with you starting with the feedback that was received from a supply chain professional in Panama regarding the August 20th post titled “The Web 2.0 Association: A Dynamic Engagement Between Stakeholders Sharing the Same Interests and Goals.

There’s a slow, slow train comin’ up around the bend: Epilog for the Ariba Interviews - Click To Read Article
Under the headline “Ariba is in demand claims finance chief” (refer to the link of the same name in the Web Resources section at the conclusion of this post), Ariba’s chief financial officer Ahmed Rubaie claimed that “a 71% leap in subscription software revenues is proof that Ariba has firmly transitioned itself into an on-demand technology company.” My initial reaction was . . . “well, that only took a year and a half.”

The Power of Social Networking Groups - Click To Read Article
Paraphrasing the old saying, "if your audience won't come to the mountain (i.e. your web site, webinars etc.), then bring the mountain to the audience." What we are really talking about is meeting your audience where they are, at their computer at work and/or at home.

The Number 1 Question Can A Consultant Really Make a Difference - Click To Read Article
Over the past few weeks I have received a spate of questions asking (although some readers have already formed an opinion), what role does an outside consultant really play in an organization? Specifically, what do they do and how can they help me? This is one of those rare instances when I wear the hats of an unbiased and neutral writer as well as a consultant (I write and teach accredited courses for associations such as Purchasing Management Association of Canada or PMAC). While I cannot speak for others, over the next few paragraphs I will attempt to provide you with some additional insight into how I approach my work. Hopefully this will at least begin to paint a clearer pricture and perhaps establish a framework for evaluating your current consulting arrangements to enable you to get more from existing relationships.

The JLARC Review: The Phantom Echoes of Public Sector Supplier Discontent? (Part 1) - Click To Read Article
“. . . Because we are not reviewing whether eVA is successful or not, but rather how it impacts one group of users and potential users, the questions do not focus so much on the elements of success that are addressed in Yes Virginia! But try to get at small business impact” e-mail from Chief Legislative Analyst, Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (April 2009)

The Greening of Procurement (Part 1) - Click To Read Article
In my extensive travels to exotic locales (alright Calgary may not be exotic but it is certainly a great place to visit), purchasing professionals who have attended one of my conferences have rarely if ever broached the subject of environmentally friendly (re green) procurement practice. Burdened by the more pressing challenges associated with unnecessarily complex initiatives that are behind schedule and over budget, one can certainly understand the reasons for the paucity of inquiries.

The Greeining of Procurement (Part 2): It's not easy being Green! - Click To Read Article
Are environmental considerations truly the central element of recently emerging green programs, or are they an advantageous, politically correct by-product of an existing strategy that is linked to more “traditional” motives? While the EcoMarkets 2007 Survey adroitly provided us with an unbiased look into the mindset of the purchaser, the attitude (and actions) of vendors requires equal consideration to accurately answer the “motive” question.

Supply Chain Confidence A PI Q and A - Click To Read Article
The following is an interesting question I received from a Master of Science (M.Sc.) Business Technologies student who is working on her thesis “Measuring Confidence in Supply Chain Management System: An empirical approach.” Reader Question: My name is Diana Esparza, M.Sc. Electronic Business Technologies full time student at the University of Ottawa. Currently, I am working on my thesis proposal “Measuring Confidence in Supply Chain Management System: An empirical approach”.

The FOSS(ilization) of the supply chain: The risks of a strategy centered on Free and Open Source Software - Click To Read Article
I recently reviewed (actually browsed as there were only10 PowerPoint slides in total) a Government of Canada presentation to attendees of the September 2006 CIO Summit in Ottawa. Titled “IM/IT Government in Canada . . . Open to Business” the presentation emphasized the fact that “change is the only constant.” Referencing a transformation agenda which highlighted a variety of important areas including internal services such as finance, human resources and procurement, the case for open standards was offered as the best possible way to manage this ongoing evolution. More specifically, the concept of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) as a viable solution was introduced.

The Ariba Interviews: Re-engineering the Future of On-Demand? - Click To Read Article
Earlier this month I was contacted by Ariba’s PR firm indicating that they wanted to schedule an interview between myself and a senior executive from the company. The purpose for the interview was to discuss Ariba’s latest contract win in the Healthcare sector. For those of you who may not already be aware, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey will be, and I quote “leveraging Ariba’s on-demand Procure-to-Pay offering to drive savings, efficiencies and competitive advantage.” (Note: here is a link to the actual press release; http://www.ariba.com/company/news.cfm?pressid=2672).

Technology's Diminishing Role in an Emerging Process-Driven World (Part 1) - Click To Read Article
Organizations that already have a technology driven program in place or have just recently implemented one still surprise me with their significant interest in the dramatic changes in procurement methodologies and practices. But rather than focusing learning on new and emerging technologies, today's procurement professionals seek insights into the actual processes that drive their enterprises. The impetus behind this change is largely the result of the fallout from the consistently high level of e-procurement initiative failures. Industry studies for the period 2001-2005 indicate 75-85 percent of all programs fail to achieve the promised results.

Technology and the Growing Talent Crunch! - Click To Read Article
A debate of reasonable fury has been raging since the Bureau of Labor Statistics released their latest report on procurement sector job growth. The primary point of contention is the BLS’ assertion that the “overall employment for purchasing and supply managers is expected to grow slower than the average for all occupations through the year 2014.” Adding further fuel to the “sky is falling” fire that seems to be the theme of the majority of commentaries written on this issue, is BLS’ position that the “demand for purchasing workers will be eliminated by improving software.”

The Greening of Procurement: How Social Consciousness is Re-Shaping Procurement Practices - Click To Read Article
Cannibals With Forks? “In our rapidly evolving capitalist economies, where it is in the natural order of things for corporations to devour competing corporations, for industries to carve up and digest other industries, one emerging form of capitalism with a fork – sustainable capitalism – would certainly constitute real progress.” From Cannibals With Forks – The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business John Elkington Capstone Publishing Limited, Oxford, 1997

Supply Chain Management Certificate/Course USA/CANADA - Click To Read Article
Network Member Question: I’d like to get information about Supply Chain Management Certificate/Course in USA/CANADA. Preferred top Universities. Andre Caliman, Sales and Marketing Executive, Brazil

The Greening of Procurement Revisited - Click To Read Article
“In our rapidly evolving capitalist economies, where it is in the natural order of things for corporations to devour competing corporations, for industries to carve up and digest other industries, one emerging form of capitalism with a fork – sustainable capitalism – would certainly constitute real progress.” From Cannibals With Forks – The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business, By John Elkington (Capstone Publishing, Oxford, 1997) Do Cannibals With Forks Constitute Progress? So started the introduction to one of my most popular white papers titled, The Greening of Procurement: How Social Consciousness is Re-Shaping Procurement Practices.

The Greening of Procurement Revisited (Part 2) - Click To Read Article
As a follow-up to my post from earlier this week, I am pleased to present Part 2 of the 2 part Greening of Procurement Series: It’s Not Easy Being Green! For those of you who would like to delve even deeper into the factors that are shaping both public and private sector sustainability strategies, including case studies on companies such as Kodak and Ford, you can purchase ($20) my white paper titled The Greening of Procurement: How Social Consciousness is Re-Shaping Procurement Practices (contact the author for ordering details)

The Disconnect between the Procedural Demands and Operational Requirements of Effective Contract Services Engagement - Click To Read Article
“You take what you can get in order to pay rent, buy food, she explains. If you can find a group that might have potential for hiring on permanently, you take the risk of staying around and putting in a lot of hours, proving yourself to these folks. She says she has been in several Microsoft groups that wanted to hire her but couldn’t because, she was told, the group lacked head count or had a hiring freeze. So, she says, you continue to be a contractor. Working holidays. Or just simply eating the time. Or even making up time when you get sick.

The IACCM Global Collaborative Platform: Delivering The Power For Change (IACCM Profile) - Click To Read Article
“The International Association for Contract and Commercial Management (IACCM) is a non-profit foundation recognized as the international authority on the role of contracting and Commitment Management in the global networked economy. A leader in research and innovative learning techniques, IACCM works with corporations, public and academic bodies to provide thought-leadership and understanding of “best practice” contracting and relationship standards. IACCM defines organizational models and skills to ensure integrity, trust and the collaborative trading relationships that are necessary to support the continued development of the global economy.” From The IACCM web site

SWaM: A Transformation in Mindset from an Adjunct Undertaking to an Economic Necessity (Report on Virginia Forum 2008) - Click To Read Article
“On August 10, 2006 Governor Timothy Kaine signed Executive Order No. 33 (2006) focusing on enhancing business opportunities for small, women-and-minority-owned (“SwaM”) businesses.

Synchronization Versus Compression Should Guide Government Procurement Policy (200th POST) - Click To Read Article
Government is never boring. On one hand you have the Government of Canada who despite earlier hopes has once again reverted to muscling a shared services platform down the unwilling throats of stakeholders, the majority of whom oppose the current direction. A move which is ironically being introduced at the expense of the very business and innovation the mandate is purported to protect.

The Future of Business Intelligence: Did Gartner Get It Right? - Click To Read Article
On Friday's segment "Beyond Business Intelligence Technology: The Importance of Domain Expertise" I will be welcoming Oco's CEO William (Bill) Copacino who has authored 3 books and more than 150 articles on supply chain management, to discuss the transformational changes that are redefining our understanding of Business Intelligence.

The American Football League, American Basketball Association and Blog Talk Radio? - Click To Read Article
Where is social media headed, and are traditional revenue models still necessary to ensure sustainable viability? This article that reflects on a discussion with BTR Director of Programming and media veteran Philip Recchia sheds an important and necessary light on a question that will likely have to be answered sooner rather than later.

The Buy American Policy: A Clear and Present Danger? - Click To Read Article
In April 2009, Trade Minister Stockwell Day expressed concern that what at the time was the proposed "Buy American" bill was representative of the same kind of U.S. protectionism "that fueled the Great Depression in the 1930's. Citing the "Smoot-Hawley Act of 1930" (Smoot-Stonehouse Tariff Act), Canadian Chamber of Commerce President Perrin Beatty suggested that the "danger with something like this is that its a spark in the forest."

Taxing Social Media, and Why Pay Toilets No Longer Exist (Part 2) - Click To Read Article
In Part 1 of this post titled "WHO IS TO PAY FOR BROADCASTING AND HOW? A Contest Opened by RADIO BROADCAST in which a prize of $500 is offered," I had cited an article from 1924 requesting ideas on how the new medium of radio could be monetized.

Source One: The “Thinking” Professional’s Solution (Source One LLC Profile) - Click To Read Article
A Gartner study released at its 2003 Gartner Symposium/Itxpo 2003 stated half of the year’s outsourcing projects would fail to deliver on bottom-line promises. (Information Week; March 26, 2003)

Solutions Not Rates Why Network Global Logistics Exemplifies The New Service Model For Integrated Logistics Network Global Logistics Profile - Click To Read Article
"To begin, one does not have to be in the throes of a disaster to benefit from my area of practice. While demanding situations in which bridging the chasm between an unexpected outcome and the reality of unrealized results is certainly something for which one becomes known, it is often the ability to see a problem on the distant horizon and structure the appropriate response that has generated the greatest level of client satisfaction. What makes what I do unique is that I am unencumbered by a commitment to promote a particular methodology such as SCOR or Six Sigma because it is either trendy or has been recommended by the latest expert."

Social Networking and the Modern Supply Chain: A Dialogue Spanning Multiple Social Networks - Click To Read Article
Multiple Network Members Questions It is an interesting aspect of social networking that diverse yet related questions/commentaries can be posed to create an answer stream (think strand commonality) that can collectively result in a cohesive dialogue in which all stakeholders obtain the answer that are applicable to their specific situation.

Six Sigma Relevancy Question and Kotter's Theory of Transformation - Click To Read Article
One such exchange that was of particular interest centered on Dr. John P. Kotter’s 8 steps for organizational transformation. Rather than paraphrase my dialogue with a forum member from the Superfactory Group on LinkedIn, I thought that it would be more interesting and beneficial to provide an actual account. That said I am pleased to share the following with you.

Shared Services Simplified or How Barry Bonds’ Bat Weight Explained GoC Thinking - Click To Read Article
I was recently asked to provide a contextual point of reference that would assist the uninitiated public in understanding the reasons why the GoC’s Shared Services program has become such a contentious issue. The Answer was Baseball! Rather than getting into a complicated dissertation of the differences between an agent-based model versus an equation-based model where the prescribed processes reflect and therefore adapt to stakeholder characteristics and objectives, I tried to think of what I would say to one of my sports fanatic friends. And it hit me, the answer is baseball!

Riding the Crest of a New Wave: How the Original SaaS Companies Have Gained the Upper Hand (PI Intelligence Bite) - Click To Read Article
With tier one vendors such as Ariba and SAP moving into the SaaS space, a model upon which organizations such as Source One’s reputation and business have been built, it is in effect an admission that the traditional licensing model does not work. Because of what can only be described as a monumental shift (remember the old analogy about big ships turning slowly), overall awareness and acceptance for SaaS-based or on-demand solutions is on the rise. And with it, the players who are and have already defined this new paradigm.

Recent ISM, CAPS and Kearney Report Perpetuates Dangerous Supply Chain Myths - Click To Read Article
While generally interesting, the recent 10 Page Report by ISM, CAPS and Kearney perpetuate a number of the myths that actually fuel the high rate of e-procurement initiative failures. Focusing on what is referred to as the “seven critical supply strategies” for Succeeding in a Dynamic World, I will address each “strategy” over the next seven day period referencing the results of our 15 years (and counting) of research findings and front line experiences.

Reader Question: Is a strong small business sector important to the stability and growth of a nation’s economy? - Click To Read Article
In a word yes! And the critical role that public sector (government) policy plays in terms of being the primary link between successful domestic engagement and effective international cluster development cannot be underestimated.

Public Sector Procurement Practice and the Principles of External Economies, Clustering and the Global Value Chain - Click To Read Article
Can the public sector effectively apply the principles of External Economies to its procurement practice? “External economies of scale (ES) occur outside of a firm, within an industry. Thus, when an industry’s scope of operations expands due to, for example, the creation of a better transportation network, resulting in a subsequent decrease in costs for a company working within that industry, external economies of scale are said to have been achieved. With external ES, all firms within the industry will benefit.” (What Are Economies of Scale? By Reem Heakal, January 2003)

Reader Response to SMEs Once Again Voice Concerns Over GoC Shared Services Strategy - Click To Read Article
Reader Comment And the second point is - is this a boondoggle in the making? My understanding is that departments are not falling over themselves to buy in to this initiative. But they have to subscribe, at least on paper, if they want funding from Treasury Board. I suspect many departments are paying lip service, waiting to see how it will all unfurl. Does anyone have a good knowledge of what the real situation is?

QA with a Story Guru Jon Hansen A Storied Career Interview - Click To Read Article
“I’m delighted to present the fourth installment in this series of interviews with some of the gurus of both performance and applied storytelling. This interview is with “Cousin” Jon Hansen (actually no relation as far as I know). I “met” Jon through this Blog. He uses storytelling in the procurement sector. Read more about him in the links below his photo.” From A Storied Career Interview series (By Dr. Kathy Hansen

Quantifying The Intagible: How LM3 Cuts Through The Haze Of Partisan Agendas (LM3 Profile) - Click To Read Article
On October 30th, 2006 Sir Nicholas Stern released his Review, The Economics of Climate Change. Stern described climate change as an economic externality which is an economic transaction that generates a positive or negative (re pollution, global warming etc.) effect for an uninvolved third-party such as the general public.

Profitable Supply Chain? - Click To Read Article
How would you market the concept of the Profitable Supply Chain to CFO's? Do you have insights, or hopefully a structured approach/methodology? Yishai, Consultant Israel

Procurement considerations when dealing with a merger? (A PI Q&A) - Click To Read Article
Network Member Question Aside from the basics of spend analysis and eliminating redundancy, I’m curious to hear of other’s experiences in dealing with merger/acquisitions and how the cultural elements were addressed in terms of promoting the use of preferred vendors and the adoption of expense management policy. What are some best practices to promote optimal adoption of the governing policies and procedures in the absence of spend management technology? Paul Nilsen Purchasing Manager – Willis North America New York, NY

Overcoming the challenges of an ineffective RFP process: Improved collaboration through intelligence synchronization (QStrat Profile) - Click To Read Article
I have had close to 30 reader responses to my recent posts on the utilization of the RFP or e-tendering process for the acquisition of goods and services. While there have been successful demonstrations of its utilization relative to MERX (MERX: An Evolution to a Broader Market), and of course the Commonwealth of Virginia’s eVA program (Yes Virginia! There is more to e-procurement than software), the majority of respondents do not view the current process has being effective. (Note: links to the above referenced articles are available through the Web Resources section at the conclusion of this post.)

New Zealand Public Sector eSourcing: Transparent Procurement encourages Competition & Investment - Click To Read Article
It is widely accepted that procurement transparency promotes competition, and that competition is a good thing for economic efficiency and growth. On a national level, it is also interesting to note the positive correlation between transparency and Foreign Direct Investment.

My Account - Click To Read Article
In Part 1 of this posting, I shared with you information from my recent interview with Bob Sievert (Director, eProcurement Bureau for the Commonwealth of Virginia). As indicated, Bob had contacted me in response to the Ariba posting (The Ariba Interviews: Re-engineering the Future of On-Demand, August 31, 2007) indicating that their experiences would “fit nicely” with that article. Needless to say, it did in that it emphasized a number of key points including the importance of leading with process understanding versus technological capabilities.

Number of SKUs and Business Complexity - Click To Read Article
Member Question: I am sure you all agree that more SKUs (finished goods) the company has in its portfolio the more complex (and more expensive) its business becomes. However I wonder how this relationship works exactly? Can anyone recommend formula (or link) that explains (shows impact of) number of SKUs on logistics / supply chain costs (handling, warehousing, transportation), forecast accuracy, level of stocks, etc?

Moving Procurement Practice Beyond Adjunct Complexity (COUPA Profile) - Click To Read Article
“Organizations that already have a technology driven program in place or have just recently implemented one still surprise me with their significant interest in the dramatic changes in procurement methodologies and practices. But rather than focusing learning on new and emerging technologies, today’s procurement professionals seek insights into the actual processes that drive their enterprises. The impetus behind this change is largely the result of the fallout from the consistently high level of e-procurement initiative failures. Industry studies for the period 2001-2005 indicate 75-85% of all programs fail to achieve the promised results. (Editor’s Note: the rate of failure continues today, with some industry pundits suggesting that ERP-centric programs miss the mark as much as 90-95% of the time.)

Newest PI Sponsor Receives Patent That Will Forever Change The Software Vendor Landscape (e-LYNXX Corporation) - Click To Read Article
In an upcoming profile article I will be be reviewing the value proposition of the e-LYNXX organization. What will make this particular profile unique is that e-LYNXX recently received what has been described as a “landmark competitive procurement patent,” for a revolutionary methodology that will have a significant and far reaching impact on the supply chain industry as a whole, including tier one vendors such as Oracle, SAP and Ariba.

On The Leading Edge of a New Paradigm: A Socially Conscientious Approach to Collaborative Enterprising (Buyers Meeting Point) - Click To Read Article
“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.” Final sentence of A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens, English Novelist (1812 – 1870)

Oracle launches sourcing software on demand: As life imitates art, so too does business imitate politics (Part 1) - Click To Read Article
If you were to take these statements at face value, one might conclude that Oracle is simply responding to changing market demands based solely on an empathetic response to the challenges CPOs face in these troubling economic times. However . . .

Measuring Buyer and Seller Performace A PI Q and A - Click To Read Article
Member Question: What methods are available to measure purchasing performance for both buyers and sellers? My Response: The challenges associated with quantifying (re measuring) performance extend beyond the mechanisms for capturing the data to include its timely application relative to ongoing real-world decision making. Specifically, is the current methodology capable of incorporating centrally established acquisition guidelines or parameters (i.e. price, quality, delivery performance, terms offered etc.) into front line buying decisions without negatively impacting operational capacity and performance.

Microsoft Acquires SAP? (A Commentary) - Click To Read Article
In her December 3rd posting in Information Week, Mary Hayes Weier reported a rumor in which Microsoft was in the process of moving toward acquiring SAP. The markets as Ms. Weier put it “felt strongly enough about the rumor that they drove up SAP’s stock by nearly 2%.” She went on to say that “there could be something to it,” as Microsoft had originally “looked at acquiring SAP” in June of 2004. Here is the link to the post in its entirety: http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2007/12/microsoft_rumor_1.html?cid=nl_IWK_daily#community

Member Question Regarding Ariba Experience - Click To Read Article
Member Question: Does anyone have any experience with a company called Ariba and their ability to do spend analysis for a procurement group? Question Submitted By: Patrick Program Manager United States

Metric Synchronization Versus Standardization The Real Value Behind IEE Smarter Solutions Profile - Click To Read Article
“Like a politician stumping for votes, proclamations by senior executives (and many industry pundits) that people and not technology are what is important rarely translates from the realm of oratory pontification into meaningful real-world application. This is due in large part to the fact that outside of the framework of political correctness, communication as Bill McAneny offered in his book Frankenstein’s Manager – Leadership’s Missing Links is actually a desire and not a skill, a skill that is in short supply according to his findings. In fact, second only to the ubiquitous lack of people skills complaint, ineffective communication said McAneny is the most common charge leveled at an organization’s leadership.”

MERX: An Evolution to a Broader Market (MERX Profile) - Click To Read Article
MERX: An Evolution to a Broader Market (MERX Profile) “Regardless of the moniker, the majority of government initiative elemental roots can be traced back to the New Public Management (NPM) ideology in which efficiency, accountability, decentralisation and marketisation are the main components or drivers (J.E. Lane, Public Sector Reform: Only deregulation, privatization and marketisation, Public Sector Reform, 1997).

Marlin Equity Partners Invests in Emptoris (Beyond the Headlines Commentary) - Click To Read Article
Los Angeles, CA, January 20, 2009 – Marlin Equity Partners is pleased to announce that it has made a significant capital investment in Emptoris, Inc., a leading global provider of enterprise supply and contract management software. What does it mean to the industry as a whole, and why should the Oracles and SAPs be concerned? (A Commentary)

Managing the Process of Automation: Leveraging Capabilities Without Forfeiting Accountability - Click To Read Article
"It ain't easy leading a software company these days. Customers are sick of poor quality, inadequate security, old-fashioned business models, and pie-in-the-sky claims for trends like open source. They just want software that works. That was the message coming from customers, industry experts, and even some company executives at the Software 2005 conference last week in Santa Clara, California. from "Execs Tell Software Makers: Some of You Are Doomed," by David Kirkpatrick (May 6, 2005)

Levelling the intagible playing field of professional services procurement (Beyond Referrals Profile) - Click To Read Article
“I stated that the worst thing a purchasing person can do when using an RFP to buy professional services is to exclude a project budget. Immediately, a rebuttal was offered, “But if I give them the budget,” stated the attendee, “they are all just going to come in at that budget.” He was right. But he failed to recognize that as a distinct advantage for both the vendor and the purchaser. When everyone’s price is the same, the buyer can compare expertise and value across a consistent price spectrum and purchase the services of the best expert they can afford.” From the PowerPoint “A Decent Proposal”, Cal Harrison, Beyond Referrals (August 2008)

Latest PWGSC Press Release Changes Little - Click To Read Article
Last evening took an interesting turn as I began to receive notifications of the latest press release from the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Chrisitan Paradis regarding the Government Enterprise Network Services: 2009 Industry Consultations Report. The following is a copy of the press release in its entirety followed of course by my take relative to its meaning in terms of the Government of Canada’s Shared Services strategy.

IT Technologies: Extinction in 5 to 10 Years? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: 1) Which IT technologies are going to stay in market for next 5-10 years and why? 2)Which IT technologies will be extinct in 5-10 years and why? I know, its difficult to predict what happen in ever changing IT field, but just wanna know what other people think about this issue. Naveen, Ifrastructure Specialist & Solutions Architect CHicago, U.S.

Kraft Buys Into the Mirage of Vendor Rationalization - Click To Read Article
In yet another example of the "when will they ever learn" category, About.com's Martin Murray's article "Kraft To Rationalize Vendors" reported that the company "announced that it is planning to cut its supplier base in half, affecting more than 30,000 businesses, but possibly saving Kraft more than $300 million a year." Putting aside for a moment that enterprise-wide rationalization strategies rarely deliver the sustainable savings that are expected - it would be interesting to see how the $300 million per year number was actually calculated - history has shown that the "sifting" process usually results in a supply base composed of the least desirable vendors.

Is Ford’s auto-xchange the “Real Deal?” (Survey Response 1) - Click To Read Article
In a recent video that was released by The Ford Motor Company, Ford's Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Jim Yost indicated that the company has to "share information in real-time" and therefore can no longer use "the sequential processes” in which there were many “handoffs" and "transfers of information." Yost also emphasized the fact that Ford needs to "integrate much more closely with their customers, supply base and even internally," as well as stressing the importance of making information available to multiple levels of their supply base "simultaneously," thereby eschewing the current "cascade processes that might take days, weeks and even months" to disseminate. To enable you to respond to this question, you can access both the video as well as the corresponding article by contacting the author.

Is Ford's auto-xchange the "Real Deal?" (Survey Response 4) - Click To Read Article
In a recent video that was released by The Ford Motor Company, Ford's Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Jim Yost indicated that the company has to "share information in real-time" and therefore can no longer use "the sequential processes” in which there were many “handoffs" and "transfers of information." Yost also emphasized the fact that Ford needs to "integrate much more closely with their customers, supply base and even internally," as well as stressing the importance of making information available to multiple levels of their supply base "simultaneously," thereby eschewing the current "cascade processes that might take days, weeks and even months" to disseminate. To enable you to respond to this question, you can access both the video as well as the corresponding article by contacting the author.

Is Ford's auto-xchange the "Real Deal?" (Survey Response 2) - Click To Read Article
In a recent video that was released by The Ford Motor Company, Ford's Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Jim Yost indicated that the company has to "share information in real-time" and therefore can no longer use "the sequential processes” in which there were many “handoffs" and "transfers of information." Yost also emphasized the fact that Ford needs to "integrate much more closely with their customers, supply base and even internally," as well as stressing the importance of making information available to multiple levels of their supply base "simultaneously," thereby eschewing the current "cascade processes that might take days, weeks and even months" to disseminate. To enable you to respond to this question, you can access both the video as well as the corresponding article by contacting the author.

Is Ford's auto-xchange the "Real Deal?" (Survey Response 3) - Click To Read Article
In a recent video that was released by The Ford Motor Company, Ford's Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Jim Yost indicated that the company has to "share information in real-time" and therefore can no longer use "the sequential processes” in which there were many “handoffs" and "transfers of information." Yost also emphasized the fact that Ford needs to "integrate much more closely with their customers, supply base and even internally," as well as stressing the importance of making information available to multiple levels of their supply base "simultaneously," thereby eschewing the current "cascade processes that might take days, weeks and even months" to disseminate. To enable you to respond to this question, you can access both the video as well as the corresponding article by contacting the author.

Is having a website a requirement in the RFQ RFP process today - Click To Read Article
Member Question: I have a question, for those actively participating in the RFQ & RFP process today. We had a client request we put up one page of his newly developed site, even though it was in the production phase and not close to finalization. He requested we upload one page, disconnect the links, and post. In further discussion he explained, having a website was part of a RFQ submission requirement. Both concerned are privately held corporations and both in the US. Has this become a standard requirement in the RFQ/RFPprocess? If so, in what cases and industries is it required? My Response: The statement that “having a website was part of RFQ submission requirement,” demonstrates that the “myths” surrounding discredited supply chain practices continue to persist.

Is the Government of Canada's Shared Services Strategy a Threat to Small Business (Survey Result 3) - Click To Read Article
Many key stakeholders both within and external to the Government of Canada (GoC) see a shared services strategy as a threat to the Small-Medium Enterprise community? Do you believe that the current GoC shared services is a threat?

Is it Mandatory for a Project Manager to be Technical? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: There are mixed opinions, some believe that a Project Manager needs to be very strong Technically (e.g. Java, Mainframe, DW) others believe that a Project Manager needs to be strong in Management skills like Planning, Organizing, Directing, Contolling etc. and it is good to have a Technical background. Question Submitted By: Abhijit Ganguly, PMP, MPM, MBA Project Manager United Health Group Gurgaon

Is Ford's auto-xchange the "Real Deal?" (Survey Response 5) - Click To Read Article
In a recent video that was released by The Ford Motor Company, Ford's Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Jim Yost indicated that the company has to "share information in real-time" and therefore can no longer use "the sequential processes” in which there were many “handoffs" and "transfers of information." Yost also emphasized the fact that Ford needs to "integrate much more closely with their customers, supply base and even internally," as well as stressing the importance of making information available to multiple levels of their supply base "simultaneously," thereby eschewing the current "cascade processes that might take days, weeks and even months" to disseminate. To enable you to respond to this question, you can access both the video as well as the corresponding article by contacting the author.

Is Ford's auto-xchange the "Real Deal?" (Survey Response 6) - Click To Read Article
In a recent video that was released by The Ford Motor Company, Ford's Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Jim Yost indicated that the company has to "share information in real-time" and therefore can no longer use "the sequential processes” in which there were many “handoffs" and "transfers of information." Yost also emphasized the fact that Ford needs to "integrate much more closely with their customers, supply base and even internally," as well as stressing the importance of making information available to multiple levels of their supply base "simultaneously," thereby eschewing the current "cascade processes that might take days, weeks and even months" to disseminate. To enable you to respond to this question, you can access both the video as well as the corresponding article by contacting the author.

Is the Government of Canada's Shared Services Strategy a Threat to Small Business (Survey Result 1) - Click To Read Article
Many key stakeholders both within and external to the Government of Canada (GoC) see a shared services strategy as a threat to the Small-Medium Enterprise community? Do you believe that the current GoC shared services is a threat? If yes, why? If no, why?

Is Six Sigma Still Relevant in a Dynamically Changing World - Click To Read Article
The following is the overview of a just released white paper on Six Sigma, Lean and Integrated Enterprise Excellence with a corresponding link to download the paper itself (as the work was funded there is no charge to obtain the paper). I am certain that it will inspire a spirited debate - and that of course is beneficial to everyone.

In every Meeting/Gathering/Social events there are one or two people who stand out and automatically assume the mantle of a leader? What differentiates them from the rest? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: In a gathering or meeting there are some people who stand apart and guide,Lead the way for others during any occasion.It may be a fun occasion or a serious one,but they are always there for people to look upto. What makes them different form the rest?

Improving Supplier Delivery using Lean and Six Sigma - Click To Read Article
Member Question: Can anyone share their experience in improving Supplier delivery performance using Lean and Six sigma methodology?

If your company has a supply chain project, who are the top 5 companies you would call? - Click To Read Article
If your company has a supply chain project involving network analysis, implementing new technologies in a warehouse or strategically planning growth for the next five years, who are the top five companies you would call to help you with this and why? Drew, Director at Forte Consultants, Cincinnati, U.S.

How will Web 3.0 affect online customers experience? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: To clarify the topic I would like to understand the following: -Which is the impact you think that Web 3.0 will have on online users when making transactions? and also -How and if the 'semantic web' will change customer behaviours? In other words: What is the future of the eCommerce in a Web 3.0 perspective? Michele, Senior Content Manager, Reading, United Kingdom

How can I promote kanban procurement practices? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: How can I promote kanban procurement practices to single-source suppliers who have no incentive to increase their inventory (raw, WIP or FGDs)? Julian, Supply Chain Manager Houston

How leadership repeatedly under-mines their most valuable procurement asset - Click To Read Article
At a recent conference in which my Dangerous Supply Chain Myths seminar was introduced to a new audience, I was related a story that was both compelling and disconcerting. Compelling in that it clearly demonstrated a lack of stakeholder collaboration, disconcerting in that it is an occurrence that is played over and over again within public and private sector organizations throughout North America.

How not to abandon your e-procurement initiative - Click To Read Article
MARK HENRICKS' ARTICLE "Flaw and Order" (Entrepreneur Magazine, September 2004) referenced a behavioral economics study that identified the eight hidden strategy flaws frequently championed by corporate decisionmakers. The sunk-cost effect - based on the premise of throwing good money after bad - and the herding instinct are the two that seem to relate specifically to the challenges associated with e-procurement initiatives.

How do you create corporate values? - Click To Read Article
How should the corporate values be created? Where do they come from? Can the brands a company has have their own values? Can these extend the corporate core values? Where do the brand values come from? Pasi, Sales and Marketing Executive Finland

How do we effectively measure SOA pay off? (Network Member Question) - Click To Read Article
Member Question: How do we effectively measure SOA pay off?? Some benefits, such as improved customer service, might be difficult to quantify. But others, like increased productivity and cost savings, should be measured. Any idea’s on how?? Question Submitted By: Anoop Kumar Development Manager of Enterprise Services (SOA) Group Harrah's Operating Company, Inc. Memphis

How do you motivate people to accept and work with the company's new ERP - Click To Read Article
Member Question: How to motivate people to accept and work with a newly implemented ERP system? How to overcome resistance and change the employees mindset? Question Submitted By: Kai-Uwe Sielaff Sales&Marketing Professional / Senior Commercial Management [LION] (Kai-Uwe.Sielaff@email.de) Viet Nam

How does policy either motivate or undermine employee performance? - Click To Read Article
In an excerpt from a November 20th post in the Procurement Insights Blog titled "How Leadership Repeatedly Under-Mines Their Most Valuable Procurement Asset" (see below), I discussed the impact that current procurement policies and environments have on purchasing professionals within their respective organizations.

How can I turn my company's operations into a competitive advantage? - Click To Read Article
Network Member Question How can I turn my company's operations into a competitive advantage? and What are the best ways to run my supply chains? Ramesh Malani L'Entrepreneur En Residence at Foundation Washington D.C.

Have you read Forrest Breyfogle’s new book on Integrated Enterprise Excellence? Thoughts/comments? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: I recently read one of Forrest Breyfogle’s new books in his 4 book-volume series on the Integrated Enterprise Excellence (IEE) System; i.e., "The Integrated Enterprise Excellence System: An Enhanced, Unified Approach to Balanced Scorecards, Strategic Planning, and Business Improvement." The subtitle to this book describes what is covered in varying details in the other three volumes. My sense is that Breyfogle has pushed his (and our) thinking to the next level and addressed issues that many of us struggle with regarding Continuous Improvement efforts. His “Integrated Enterprise” thinking makes sense to me, what are your thoughts or feedback?

Has anyone applied complexity theory to business in a practical way? - Click To Read Article
Member Question: Has anyone applied complexity theory to business in a practical way? David, Instructional Designer, Performance Technologist and Project Manager

(Guest Post) Why Optimization Matters: Moving Beyond Price Driven Auctions - Click To Read Article
This article is the first in a three-part series of guest articles on optimization by Dr. Olga Raskina, Lead Scientist, with Emptoris, the supply and contract management solutions provider. As the Lead Scientist for Emptoris and someone who spends a great deal of time focusing on the impact optimization technologies can have on business processes and businesses, I am often asked “Why Optimization Matters?” Optimization sometimes sounds like a difficult topic, even though the idea and technology are meant to make processes and decisions easier – and more efficient.

(Guest Post) Optimizing Value in the Economic Downturn [and Recovery] - Click To Read Article
This article is the second in a three-part series of guest articles on optimization by Dr. Olga Raskina, Lead Scientist, with Emptoris, the supply and contract management solutions provider. As we push on through the troubled economic environment, corporate leaders are laser focused on bringing supply chain management under tighter financial guidelines. An article I recently read in Supply Chain Digest highlighted the typical urgency felt by procurement managers to cut supply chain costs.

(Guest Post) Why Optimization Matters: Moving Beyond Price Driven Auctions - Click To Read Article
By Dr. Olga Raskina, Lead Scientist, Emptoris This article is the first in a three-part series of guest articles on optimization by Dr. Olga Raskina, Lead Scientist, with Emptoris, the supply and contract management solutions provider. As the Lead Scientist for Emptoris and someone who spends a great deal of time focusing on the impact optimization technologies can have on business processes and businesses, I am often asked “Why Optimization Matters?” Optimization sometimes sounds like a difficult topic, even though the idea and technology are meant to make processes and decisions easier – and more efficient.

Further to the Barry Bonds Post . . . - Click To Read Article
The response to the Barry Bonds post through both the PI Blog as well as e-mail has been tremendous. Be sure to check out the comments that have been posted (with more to come), as they are indicative of the prevalent attitudes amongst stakeholders in terms of the Government of Canada’s Shared Services strategy. One question that I am often asked is if “concern with the GoC program is solely an issue of access and lost revenue opportunities,” or if there are “broader implications” that elevate the negative pushback from one centered on entitlement. Specifically, are SME complaints tied solely to fears of lost revenue opportunities (which some consider to be self-serving), or is it indicative of a true erosion of “best value” products and services availability.

Foundations Of Sand: Why Ecademy Has A Decided Advantage As The Social Network Market Leader (Ecademy Profile) - Click To Read Article
“The social network community is on the verge of a monumental shift in which many of the networks that are in existence today will not be around tomorrow. By evolving beyond their technological origins, the core survivors will avoid the fate of the early lights, who like SixDegrees.com are destined to fade into historic insignifigance in much the same manner that CP/M ceded to the DOS platform in the early days of the personal computer.” From The White Paper “The Unsociable Business of Social Networks” (By Jon Hansen, Release Date January 2009)

Financial Supply Chains: Member Question & Survey - Click To Read Article
Network Member Question: What does the term "financial supply-chain" mean to you? Enrico Camerinelli, Finance Director Europe's consultant editor for supply-chain has developed a short online survey on this subject - should take a couple on mins for you to complete - would be grateful if you could take time out to complete - the web link to the survey is as follows: (Note: to access the survey, please contact the author) Look forward to hearing your views Question Submitted By: Steve 'Dunkerley' Project Director - Finance Director Europe (FDE) United Kingdom

Finding the hidden Intellectual Property (IP) value in procurement contracts (Future Path Profile) - Click To Read Article
Looking beyond what Future Path President and CEO Greg Waite referred to as the “casual conversation” surrounding the issue of Intellectual Property (IP) rights within the majority of procurement contracts, I thought of my own work as a consultant. I am often retained by both public and private sector organizations to prepare studies or reports on a variety of topics ranging from the viability of digital signatures within the contract routing process to assessing the changing technological landscape and its impact on current as well as contemplated e-procurement strategies.

eWorld The Gateway Venue to the UK and Europe eWorld Purchasing Supply A Revolution Event Profile - Click To Read Article
In a world of increasingly “same old, same old” and “been there, done that” experiences the eWorld franchise is a breath of freash air . . . and not just because I was one of the speakers at this year’s conference in London.

Double Marginalization and the Point of Ideal Price Viability - Click To Read Article
Referencing my last post (Double Marginalization and the Decentralized Supply Chain, August 9, 2007) double marginalization “DM” is defined as the “exercise of market power at successive vertical layers in a supply chain.” The problem that arises as a result of DM is tied to an impetus to mark up the product’s price above marginal cost. The sequence of mark-ups “leads to a higher retail price and lower combined profit for the supply chain.” In short, DM drives the paradoxical outcome of higher buy prices with lower sell profits.

Does offshoring mean developed countries are losing technical jobs to developing countries? - Click To Read Article
Member Question? Most of software solutions providing companies in US & UK are well experienced with explicit and undaunted gains of offshore software development outsourcing and thats why outsourcing comes as no surprise to anyone now. Then why are software companies in developed countries giving second thought to outsourcing to developing countries like India, Pakistan, Vietnam & others? Reasons why you Outsource: a) Outsourcing can help you share risk b) Outsourcing can help accommodate peak loads c) Outsourcing can help develop your internal staff d) Outsourcing is cost effective and saves you money

Double Marginalization and the Decentralized Supply Chain Revisited - Click To Read Article
Without a doubt, the concept of double marginalization and the resultant issues associated with understanding and addressing its impact represents one of the more complex elements of an organization’s supply chain practice. As the point of convergence of multiple stakeholder interests and the seemingly disparate (some would say contradictory) strategies that define today’s partinioned enterprises, the intent of the article when it was first published was to create an awareness of a concept that up until that point was not widely recognized, let alone understood by the majority of purchasing professionals.

Doing What Comes Naturally Accessing Zycus Spend Management Innovation Through A Simplified and Practical User Interface Zycus Inc Profile - Click To Read Article
“Recognizing that adoption or end-user compliance is one of the main barriers to a successful program, the ability for project champions to leverage user comfort with known applications such as Excel to access certain functions within the SAP architecture could stimulate stakeholder buy-in, at least internally. By promoting the utilization of SAP through a familiar, easy-to-use interface, the overall level of possible resistance may diminish to the point of making the SAP PPS offering more viable.

Dangerous Supply Chain Myths (Part 6) - Click To Read Article
Segment 6 – Enablement of the Supply Management Organization: Balancing Capability with Control Enablement of the Supply Management Organization Although center-led organizations will continue to dominate for the next decade, as global operations become more complex, hybrid center-led models will begin to emerge to maximize value based upon the right mix of responsiveness and centralized control. Successful organizations will need to adopt and utilize appropriate supply chain technologies that integrate functional management and track appropriate metrics.

Dangerous Supply Chain Myths (Part 3) - Click To Read Article
Segment 3 – Multiple Supply Chain Networks: An Issue of Timing versus Concept Validity? Multiple Supply Networks The tail of the supply chain needs to be tailored to each developing market and this will require domestic partners to help execute fulfillment and delivery. In addition, good risk mitigation requires flexibility and diversity in your supply chain and supporting networks.

Dangerous Supply Chain Myths (Part 2) - Click To Read Article
Segment 2 - Supplier Development and Management: The Fruit of a Poisonous Tree? Supplier Development and Management Effective supplier development and management should deliver a competitive advantage in cost, quality, delivery/responsiveness, technology, and innovation achieved.

Dangerous Supply Chain Myths (Part 7) - Click To Read Article
Segment 7 – Enabling Technology: The Emergence of the Metaprise Enabling Technology Technology is the key in the supply chain organization of the future. The right technology will enable enterprise-wide supply management, external supply chain visibility, and internal and external collaboration.

Dangerous Supply Chain Myths (Part 4) - Click To Read Article
Segment 4 – Internal & External Collaboration: A Desire versus Skill! Internal & External Collaboration In order to extract the significant gains that collaboration can bring, companies will need to enable best-practice multi-lateral collaboration between supply partners, achieve integrated product development, and employ “customer of choice” positioning.

Dangerous Supply Chain Myths (Part 5) - Click To Read Article
Segment 5 – Talent Attraction & Retention: An Exercise in Platitudes? Talent Attraction & Retention A supply chain is not an abstract network driven by processes and machines, but a real network driven by people. Good supply chains run on good people. Supply Chain Success will be impossible without the right talent, which is becoming rarer every day thanks to the global talent war. Any organization that does not have a good process in place to identify necessary skills, evaluate organizational gaps, and identify, recruit, develop, and maintain talent is doomed to become a second class citizen in the emerging international marketplace.

Do you practice "Business @ The Speed of Thought?" - Click To Read Article
Member Question: Almost 10 years ago, Bill Gates of Microsoft wrote a book titled "Business @ The Speed of Thought" where he laid out his vision for how organizations should utilize technology to become more responsive, adaptive, agile, etc. Specifically he drew an analogy between an organization's IT infrastructure and living beings Autonomic Nervous System. Now, reading this book over again, I'm struck by a perception that even now most organizations still do not have the level of IT integration that Gates speaks of. So my question(s) to you is this: Does your enterprise / organization have real-time reporting and notification of all important data?

Development of SAAS Based Applications - Click To Read Article
Member Question: Many research firm has predicted SAAS is going to become a next level Application Development. 1.How can i convert a existing applications into SAAS based Apps. 2.What are requirements need to develop a SAAS based Applications. Question Submitted By: Rajasekar Nonburaj Business Intelligence Consultant India

Did an Anti-North American Sentiment and Arrogance Undermine Andersson's Tenure at GM? - Click To Read Article
On the August 11th PI Window on Business Show I spoke with three time honoree as a Supply and Demand Chain Executive's "Pros To Know," and co-author of the book "Transform Your Supply Chain" Bill Michels, regarding General Motor's precipitous fall in relation to their supply chain strategy.

Cluster Development and the CAC (PWGSC): Facilitator or Competitor? - Click To Read Article
The original intent of my research for this posting was to determine how the global reach of Consulting and Audit Canada (now called Government Consulting Services under the PWGSC banner) could be used as a vehicle to develop strong domestic clusters that could then be leveraged to deliver products and services internationally.

Compressing Porter's (Virtual) Value Chain, Eliminating Silos of Understand and Integrating Six Sigma - Click To Read Article
During my interview with Bob Copacino on today's PI Window on Business Show, he indicated that with traditional BI methodologies and systems approximately 90% of an organization's time and resources are spent on the up front gathering, organizing and selecting of data while only 10% of the time is spent on applying the intelligence in a meaningful way.

Conversational engagement versus static accessibility: sharing knowledge in the 21st century - Click To Read Article
Key points • Old mindsets must be set aside in favor of a more progressive view that is commensurate with the growing awareness that an organization’s purchasing team is not merely a functional extension of another department, but plays a critical strategic role in the emerging global enterprise. • This is not just limited to purchasing, as both CIOs and CFOs are going through a transformation that is based on a collaborative versus a siloed view of organizational duties and complacent relationships. • A key enabler for this change in outlook is the various social networks and mediums. But it is painfully apparent that the recognition of how social networks can and ultimately will influence both conversational insight and the purchasing function itself is lost on the majority of procurement professionals.

Can you be transparent in Social Media A PI QA - Click To Read Article
Network Member Question Can you be transparent in Social Media? (Note: Please check out my thoughts on this question at - CONTACT Author to obtain link) Carmen Bracamonte President – LargerNet Trade Development and Management Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL

Can present day PWGSC woes be traced back to a 1995 article on the General Services Administration in the US - Click To Read Article
“Of all the agencies and departments that have been discussed for privatization this year, the GSA would be one of the easiest to privatize. Its many services are available from the private sector, whose more successful firms offer a blueprint for how a privatized GSA could survive and thrive in a competitive environment. Moreover, because of the routine and commercial nature of most of its operations, as well as the performance benchmarks provided by its private sector counterparts, GSA is amenable to forms of privatization that allows for substantial and active participation by the existing federal workforce. Dr. Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D. Privatize the General Services Administration Through an Employee Buyout May 26, 1995 - The Heritage Foundation

Business Ramifications of Web 2.0 – Participate to Gain Business Insights - Click To Read Article
I recently responded to a question, "How do you improve adoption of Web 2.0 tools inside the intranet at companies outside the high tech industry?" Here was my response: In the March 3rd issue of CIO Insider the following headline grabbed my attention: Banning Social Networks a Losing Battle

Challenging the Integrity of your Supply Chain: The Weak Links of Hidden Risks (Katzscan Profile) - Click To Read Article
“In the fall of 2004, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, known as COSO, released their Enterprise Risk Management – Integrated Framework, which was authored by PricewaterhouseCoopers. This principles-based framework provides direction and criteria for improving an organization’s ability to manage risk.

Buy American: Establishing Artificial Boundaries or Removing Unwanted Barriers? - Click To Read Article
"This idea of international free trade is a fallacy. We don't need free trade. We need smart trade . . . Even Canada is not truly a free trade partner. Their regulations require broadcasters use a specified percentage of Canadian-produced programming. That's protectionism, and to deny it is to be the patsy to foreign governments who think they can take advantage of the naivete of the American voter." Stephen Cottle, Hatford, CT (LinkedIn Q&A Response)

Building The Bandwagon How Bellwether Softwares 23 Year Journey May Very Well Change The Way Organizations Purchase Bellwether Software Profile - Click To Read Article
Bell-weth-er (noun): One that serves as a leader or as a leading indicator of future trends (American Heritage Dictionary) Bellwether: A bellwether is any entity in a given arena that serves to create or influence trends or to pressure future happenings (Wikipedia – the free encyclopedia) In a recent post on eWorld, I discussed the importance of providing a venue in which the landscape was not dominated by the larger vendors who invariably flex their marketing might (re deep pockets) to monopolize the spotlight. (Note: check out the eWorld venue because as I had indicated, the conference “has become the conduit between substance starved professionals and the emerging companies (and technologies) that promise to reshape supply chain practice for the next ten years and beyond.”)

Are Multiple Supply Chains Important Survey Response 2 - Click To Read Article
A 2006 Report made the following statement: "Designing and operating multiple supply networks to meet the needs of specific market segments--supply chain innovation and the use of multiple supply chains will be important to future revenue and market share growth." Based on your own experience is this an accurate assessment? If yes, why? If no, why?

Are Multiple Supply Chains Important (Survey Response 1) - Click To Read Article
A 2006 Report made the following statement: "Designing and operating multiple supply networks to meet the needs of specific market segments--supply chain innovation and the use of multiple supply chains will be important to future revenue and market share growth." Based on your own experience is this an accurate assessment? If yes, why? If no, why?

An Advocate for the Little Guy: How CABiNET has provided an Important Voice for High-Tech SMEs in Canada (CABiNET Profile) - Click To Read Article
“Shared Services is different from the diametrically opposite model of Outsourcing which is where an external third party is paid to provide a service that was previously internal to the buying organization, typically leading to redundancies and re-organization. There is an on-going debate about the advantages of Shared Services over outsourcing. It is sometimes assumed that a joint venture between a government department and a commercial organization is an example of Shared Services but in fact they are quite different. The joint venture involves the creation of a separate legal commercial entity (jointly owned) which provides profit to its shareholders. It is difficult to see what is being shared rather than bought. Such joint ventures are really a form of outsourcing.”

Are Multiple Supply Chain Networks Important? (A PI Q and A) - Click To Read Article
I recently posed a question on the importance of Multiple Supply Chain Networks which, within a matter of several hours, elicited 14 responses from around the world. And while the majority of respondents felt that the findings from an ISM, CAPS and AT Kearney 2006 report were not indicative of general market sentiments, it nonetheless has proven to be an issue that is of considerable interest to supply chain professionals and academics. As a result, over the next week I will share the answers as well as corresponding discussion tracks starting today with the response from a Senior Director Supply Chain Operations in the Apparel & Fashion Industry in the United States.

Are Multiple Supply Chain Networks Important? (A PI Q and A) Track No. 2 - Click To Read Article
The following is the second track from the still growing number of responses I have received from readers around the world regarding the question, “Are Multiple Supply Chain Networks Important?

Are Multiple Supply Chain Networks Important A PI Q and A Track No 3 - Click To Read Article
The following is the third track in the Q&A series which posed the question, “Are Multiple Supply Chain Networks Important?” Given the continuing strong reader response, the series will be extended for the balance of this week.

Are Multiple Supply Chains Important (Survey Response 5) - Click To Read Article
A 2006 Report made the following statement: "Designing and operating multiple supply networks to meet the needs of specific market segments--supply chain innovation and the use of multiple supply chains will be important to future revenue and market share growth." Based on your own experience is this an accurate assessment? If yes, why? If no, why?

Are Multiple Supply Chains Important (Survey Response 4) - Click To Read Article
A 2006 Report made the following statement: "Designing and operating multiple supply networks to meet the needs of specific market segments--supply chain innovation and the use of multiple supply chains will be important to future revenue and market share growth." Based on your own experience is this an accurate assessment? If yes, why? If no, why?

Are Multiple Supply Chains Important Survey Response 3 - Click To Read Article
A 2006 Report made the following statement: "Designing and operating multiple supply networks to meet the needs of specific market segments--supply chain innovation and the use of multiple supply chains will be important to future revenue and market share growth." Based on your own experience is this an accurate assessment? If yes, why? If no, why?

Are Multiple Supply Chains Important (Survey Response 7) - Click To Read Article
A 2006 Report made the following statement: "Designing and operating multiple supply networks to meet the needs of specific market segments--supply chain innovation and the use of multiple supply chains will be important to future revenue and market share growth." Based on your own experience is this an accurate assessment? If yes, why? If no, why?

Are Multiple Supply Chains Important (Survey Response 8) - Click To Read Article
A 2006 Report made the following statement: "Designing and operating multiple supply networks to meet the needs of specific market segments--supply chain innovation and the use of multiple supply chains will be important to future revenue and market share growth." Based on your own experience is this an accurate assessment? If yes, why? If no, why?

Are Multiple Supply Chains Important (Survey Response 6) - Click To Read Article
A 2006 Report made the following statement: "Designing and operating multiple supply networks to meet the needs of specific market segments--supply chain innovation and the use of multiple supply chains will be important to future revenue and market share growth." Based on your own experience is this an accurate assessment? If yes, why? If no, why?

An Oasis of Creative Thought and Action in a Desert of Conflicting Policy (Associated Manufacturing Marketing Group Profile) - Click To Read Article
“From a domestic engagement perspective, public sector procurement practices are leading to an erosion of the overall supply base. This escalating level of erosion and its negative impact on innovation was initially presented as part of an October 2002 U.S. report by the Executive Office of the President. Specifically, the practice of contract bundling which resulted in a steadily decreasing number of Small – Medium enterprises receiving federal contracts was seen as a direct threat to the nation’s pool of “innovation and creativity.” This of course has paved the way for newer legislation which has resulted in agencies such as NASA unbundling contracts in an effort to make business more manageable for small enterprises, or groups of small enterprises.

Answering a Silent Question: When Compliance Adherence is a Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil Proposition (BC Compliance Group Profile) - Click To Read Article
How Can You Negotiate After the Deal is Done? “Imagine This: a requisitioner commits to a deal with a supplier without your involvement or approval. Now the supplier believes he’s already won the order and you’ve lost the upper hand in any negotiation. This can be one of the toughest situations you will ever face in procurement.” Network Member Question, January 12, 2009

Are there 80,000 reasons that Alcock borrowed a page from Gershon? - Click To Read Article
“In what has been described as the most significant restructuring of public services for a generation, the rest of the $21 billion (in savings) will have to come from overall efficiency gains such as improving the procurement system, and streamlining areas such as information technology and human resources. That’s why the skeptics are skeptical.” In case some of you are wondering if I am just repeating what I had written in Saturday’s post regarding Reg Alcock’s statement “that the “federal government is on the verge of launching the biggest transformation in the way government is managed in its history,” the above comment was made during a July 22, 2004 BBC interview with Sir Peter Gershon.

A Dichotomy of Perspectives: A Discussion on Forrest Breyfogle’s New Book on Integrated Enterprise Excellence - Click To Read Article
Recently, I had the opportunity to exchange ideas on the veracity of the various models that organizations rely upon as the framework for building a successful enterprise. What prompted this open and productive exchange of ideas was a question that was recently posed regarding the merits of Forrest Breyfogle’s latest book on Integrated Enterprise Excellence (or for those of you that have a penchant for acronyms, IEE). In the following paragraphs I will share a few of the more meaningful discussion streams starting with the original question.

A “Perfect Vision” and Determined Execution: Laying the Foundations for Sustainable Success (Perfect Commerce Profile) - Click To Read Article
One might say that perfection is in the vision and execution is reflected in the outcome. If that is in fact the standard by which perfection is measured, then the little company from Kansas City has been appropriately named.

Achieving Practical Outcomes to Complex Purchases at the Heart of the Emptoris Acquisition of Click Commerce - Click To Read Article
“I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity.” Oliver Wendell Holmes, Physician, Poet, Writer, Humorist and Professor at Harvard (1809-1894)

Alcock Borrows a Page from Gershon? - Click To Read Article
“In what has been described as the most significant restructuring of public services for a generation, the rest of the $21 billion (in savings) will have to come from overall efficiency gains such as improving the procurement system, and streamlining areas such as information technology and human resources. That’s why the skeptics are skeptical.”

About.com’s Martin Murray’s post “Non-Profit Organization Suing ERP Supplier” A Sign of the Times? - Click To Read Article
In a white paper that I had written in 2007 titled “SAP Procurement for Public Sector” I had highlighted how the challenges with failed ERP-centric initiatives extended beyond the public sector to include the private sector. The difference as one senior Colgate-Palmolive executive told me shortly after scrapping a failed program was that “unlike the public sector in which a failed initiative becomes front page news, private sector company ERP failures rarely make a blip on the media’s collective radar screen.” The lack of media awareness notwithstanding, the frequency of failures in the private sector is comparable to the number of setbacks that occur in the public sector.





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