Strategic Procurement: Organizing Suppliers and Supply Chains for Competitive Advantage - Softcover

Booth, Caroline

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0749472286 ISBN 13: 9780749472283

Publisher: Kogan Page, 2014

Synopsis

In today's challenging business environment a company's success is determined by its ability to utilize all of the assets at its disposal. Yet two assets often neglected by the boardroom are the amount it spends on goods and services and the expertise of the organisation's key suppliers. This highly accessible book will help you understand how to tap into these assets to secure competitive advantage. With application to organisations in all industries across the world, Strategic Procurement details why procurement is critical to successful business performance. It explores the strategic value of procurement to business and the potential for significant cost savings through maximising value from suppliers and third-party spend. Since the first edition of this book, a lot has changed in the world of strategic procurement. While many developments have served to reinforce the business value of good procurement practices, we have also become more acutely aware of the risks associated with poor procurement. On the upside, we have seen an increasing role played by procurement in many recent mega-mergers. On the downside, we only need to look at the supply continuity issues triggered by a string of natural disasters; the reputational issues related to the supply chains of companies such as BP and Apple; and the inadvertent role played by suppliers as the weakest link in cybercrime. The 2nd edition of Strategic Procurement has been thoroughly updated to reflect these developments. There is a whole new chapter on the role of procurement in delivering successful mergers and acquisitions as well as three new chapters exploring the mitigants to a variety of supplier-related risks. In addition, there are expanded sections on corporate responsibility, procurement proficiency, good procurement across the organisation, and new ways of supplier collaboration. The book includes updated real-life case studies taken directly from the author's work in procurement for leading organisations.

About this title

Product Description

Most organizations, regardless of industry, spend more money on suppliers than they do on employing their staff. Written for the non-procurement expert, Strategic Procurement explores the 'why' and 'what' of good procurement rather than the 'how.' It explains why you should focus your efforts on this previously neglected area of business and rich rewards, where P&L impact is relatively painless and immediate, where benefit to cost ratios of 10 to 1 are realistic ambitions and in-year payback is possible. This new expanded edition covers all the aspects of strategic procurement, with new chapters on: Mergers & acquisitions; Supplier-related risk management; and Global supply. All case studies are updated and Caroline has added vital new information to her chapters on corporate responsibility, good procurement across the organisation and new ways of supplier collaboration. Showing you how to cut costs without harming your business and the importance of recognizing supplier relationship management, Strategic Procurement offers real understanding of the true worth of procurement in the boardroom.

Review

Strategic Procurement is a must-have for anyone in a senior role, whether in procurement or not. Those new to procurement should buy it, read it, and read it again in two years time. --Supply Management

It is also a good thought provoking read for senior practitioners; anyone, however experienced, will find something to spark ideas. That's in part because one of the book's main strengths is Booth's use of examples and experience from her time in the profession as a CPO and senior consultant. The 'war stories' are very good and interesting; for instance, her tips on successful procurement transformation, based on her experience, are very pertinent to anyone embarking on such a programme... But as a highly readable, useful and thought provoking book, it is undoubtedly to be recommended, and Caroline Booth joins the short list of those who are successful CPOs and writers!" --Spend Matters UK/Europe

About this edition

• Publisher: Kogan Page
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0749472286
• ISBN 13: 9780749472283
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 224