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For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

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July 24, 2008

Sourcing Professionals: Get Ready To Deal With Volatility

Business Change Will Drive Conflicting Demands On Sourcing And Vendor Management

by Christine Ferrusi Ross, Caroline Roeleveld-Hoekendijk

with Andrew Parker, Onica King

This is an excerpt

Executive Summary

Most business people would regard volatility as a given even in the best of times. Even so, volatility looks set to be historically high for the coming decade. In this context, sourcing professionals need to make sure that they keep up with the business, its clients, and its suppliers. Issues such as information from top management, broken relationships with sourcing's business stakeholders, a lack of proper information systems, or inflexible long-term contracts with suppliers will need urgent attention. Sourcing's three core tasks — demand management, contract execution, and vendor management — all demand new focus in times of heightened volatility. To keep meeting your goals, you will have to know your business better, map out a flexible and iterative approach, and implement best-practice sourcing processes and governance. You will need to emphasize contract flexibility and its ability to grow with the company. At the same time, the vendor management office (VMO) will need to double its focus on information gathering. And relationship management will need renewed effort at all levels in the organization — operational, tactical, and strategic.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Sourcing Is A Tough Job — Business Volatility Makes It Tougher
  • Succeeding During Volatility Requires Strategic Advice And Risk Mitigation

RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Risk Analysis And Business Goal Alignment Top The Priority List
  • Related Research Documents

This is an excerpt

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