The course would be of interest to all procurement professionals who wish to develop an understanding of the latest strategic procurement practices.  The topic will also be tailored to supplier participants, where knowledge & discussion around procurement from a supplier perspective will only benefit the contractual relationship overall. 

Key Learning Outcomes

• Greater appreciation of the risks/issues affecting the procurement function 
• Understand how a leadership environment can maximise functionality and staff potential
• The development & communication of  procurement driven agendas while maintaining departmental relationships
• Aligning procurement strategy with business strategy
• Identification of internal and external actions for change 

COURSE OUTLINE

Key principles behind the Procurement function 

• Awareness of Procurement principles (transparency, integrity, fairness and accountability) 
• Where do ethics sit in the procurement process?
• Value for money - the need to look at the ‘big picture’ over the term of the contract
• Effective use of procurement staff resources (knowledge base and experience)
• The meeting of contractual obligations 
• Managing confidentiality issues whilst maintaining the need for transparency

Procurement leadership

• Strategic role of procurement and contract management within the organisation 
• What needs to be modified? Setting an agenda for influence & change
• Discussion - Ideas/Issues
• Timeframe - How, Who, Why, When
• Link to the business strategy

Empowerment through communication

• What should be included in a communication plan?  Providing procurement with a relevant ‘voice’
• What communication mechanisms are available to get the procurement message across?
• Providing regular updates to key parties 
• Communicating a procurement-based agenda to stakeholders 
• Communicating the benefits (to yourself, the team and stakeholders)

Personal leadership 

• Awareness and avoiding procurement ‘isolation’ via team engagement and personal motivation 
• Leadership Theories/Traits and the Managerial Grid
• Training – formal versus informal
• The role of mentoring and coaching in the procurement environment
• Increasing Procurement and your own visibility in the organisation 

Organisational leadership

• What can be done internally to create a leadership environment 
• Power principles beneficial to the procurement function
• Helpful versus unhelpful leadership styles 
• External actions that promote procurement leadership
• How to get management involved

Procurement leadership around the buyer and supplier relationship

• Providing procurement leadership to suppliers as per the procurement relationship
• Championing collaboration between buyers and suppliers for a more productive outcome
• Supplier leadership – being responsive to both the organisation and buyer requirement 
• Having a true procurement relationship - the consultative approach

Procurement reform – next steps 

• Looking at possible future of procurement roles and rules
• Taking the proactive step for positive change 
• Recap of structure and timeframe - who, what, when