- 24
- MAR
- 2010
Is China still the answer?
Author: Jordan Early - Categories: Economy & Current Affairs, Global Sourcing
In recent weeks, PIU Insight has been dominated by stories about sourcing in China. This in itself is no surprise; the world's second-largest economy is engrained in the purchasing process of just about everything we buy. Everything we purchase from elastic bands right through to the most sophisticated component parts for our factories and power plants wear the 'Made in China' badge. more
- 22
- MAR
- 2010
What makes you think your supply chain is secure?
Author: Maggie Slowik - Categories: Cost Management, Risk
There is something that no supply chain, regardless of industry, size or location, is untroubled by - the risk of counterfeiting. In recent weeks in the press I've come across quite a few examples of companies that have become victims to this procurement nightmare. more
- 05
- MAR
- 2010
The PIU is excited to announce the launch of our first-ever CPO strategy survey
Author: Maggie Slowik - Categories: Procurement Strategy, Best Practice & Benchmarking
This week, the PIU launched its first-ever annual procurement strategy report, entitled 'Procurement CPO 2010 – Playing the Full Role'. Among other trends, the study identifies the major challenges and priorities that CPOs and their teams are facing this year, the key success factors they believe are critical in overcoming them and the ways in which performance is measured. more
- 05
- MAR
- 2010
Procurement strategy tools for a shifting landscape
Author: Mark Perera - Categories: Procurement Strategy
Since setting up the PIU I have started to get slightly obsessed by procurement strategies. In particular, I want to know how they are formed, how well aligned they are with the business, and also whether they can be adjusted with quick-moving internal and external pressures. So when I picked up the January-February 2010 edition of the Harvard Business Review magazine, I was intrigued to read Michael Jacobides' article, 'Strategy Tools for Shifting Landscapes'. more
- 03
- MAR
- 2010
PIU research featured in Procurement Leaders magazine
Author: Amy Huntley - Categories: Procurement Intelligence, Talent
In the second part of our look at demand management, we concentrate on talent and relationships. As the make-up of the procurement professional has evolved, so has the route that many have taken into the function, which could prove a significant advantage. With many procurement organisations now populated with talent that has previous experience working in areas such as marketing, human resources and engineering, the function has an in-built advantage when it comes to spreading the demand management word. more
- 02
- MAR
- 2010
Our new Procurement Strategy survey is now live
Author: Mark Perera - Categories: Procurement Strategy
We are delighted to launch the first, annual CPO Strategy survey - 'Playing the Full Role' - from the Procurement Intelligence Unit, which provides some fascinating insights into the professional life of modern procurement leaders, their priorities and aims for today, and their aspirations for the future. more
- 02
- MAR
- 2010
PIU research featured in Procurement Leaders magazine
Author: Amy Huntley - Categories: Cost Management
Rather than manage cost, manage demand - it's a simple theory, but there are few organisations doing it well. Here, Michelle Perkins, head of research at the Procurement Intelligence Unit, takes us through some of the steps that CPOs can take to introduce a corporate-wide demand management process. The article, featured in Procurement Leaders, is based on an in-depth research project carried out by the PIU, the findings of which point to a long, difficult road, but one with a huge pot of gold at its end. more
- 01
- MAR
- 2010
No defence for procurement in Iraq war
Author: Jordan Early - Categories: Economy & Current Affairs, Risk
One of the most striking features of the UK's ongoing Iraq inquiry isn't so much the revelations about the cosy relationship enjoyed by former Prime Minister Tony Blair and ex-US President George Bush, nor even the dodgy dossier, which contained 'facts' relating to Saddam Hussein's chemical weapons programme, rather the increasingly central role that procurement has assumed in proceedings. more
