Under the banner of a legitimate report on negotiating cloud contracts Gartner’s latest report torpedoes the new players using IBMs old FUD approach . . . will the market listen?

September 29, 2011

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Under the banner of a legitimate report on negotiating cloud contracts, Gartner’s latest offering should be viewed in the context of my January 7th, 2011 post “Madison Avenue ooops . . . make that Gartner, names Oracle as a leader in supply chain planning.” Leveraging the old IBM classic FUD approach (not Elmer but Fear, […]

Colin Cram’s 5 Recommendations for a Successful Government Procurement Contest

September 27, 2011

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Similar to the Coles Notes or, the . . . For Dummies series of books, 30 year plus UK public sector veteran Colin Cram has, as a lead in to our October interview on the PI Window on Blog Talk Radio, provided his five recommendations for a successful procurement contest initiative. For those who may […]

There’s something for procurement professionals in the New 2011 PI Window Fall Line-up

September 26, 2011

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We have just announced the New 2011 Fall Schedule for the PI Window on Blog Talk Radio, which includes two new shows that will connect directly with my readers from the Procurement Insights Blog. Here is a copy of the official PI Window Fall Schedule Post: The New 2011 Fall Schedule for the PI Window […]

Gatineau Launches New Supplier Portal: Is it the start of a new era?

September 23, 2011

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NOTE: Here is the on-demand link to my interview with the City of Gatineau’s Alain d’Entremeont, Head of Public Relations @ Gatineau’s New Supplier Portal. As the City of Gatineau launches its new supplier portal does this mark a new era of engagement in the Capital Region? I will be seeking the answer to this […]

Follow-up to Part 5 in the Bridging the Disconnect Series: Where is Jack Nicholson when you need him?

September 22, 2011

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Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway – I need an answer to my question. Col. Nathan R. Jessep Watch your tone, Commander.  I’m a fair guy, but this #&!@+ heat makes me crazy. from the 1992 movie A Few Good Men I love the saying that professes to a link between art and real life in that […]

Posted in: Commentary, Finances

My series on the history of spend management and evolution from traditional ERP solutions has attracted record numbers in terms of readers . . .

September 21, 2011

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When COUPA asked me to write a multi-part series on the history of spend management and the evolution from traditional ERP players to the new Titans of SaaS as I have called them, I never honestly considered nor anticipated the level of reader response.  I never do, as I have always written about those subjects […]

Bridging the disconnect between finance and purchasing (Part 6): Cooking up a better P/E Ratio

September 20, 2011

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Market researchers at the university’s Food Processing Center surveyed members of the Chefs Collaborative, a national network of food service professionals that promotes sustainable cuisine by using local, seasonal and specialty ingredients.  The poll targeted those primarily responsible for food purchases at their establishments, mostly chefs. Nearly three-fourths of the respondents agreed that buying locally […]

Posted in: Commentary, Finances

Bridging the disconnect between finance and purchasing (Part 5): Cost of Capital and the advent of an elusive tie-in to purchasing

September 20, 2011

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In many instances, purchasing, perhaps more than any other business function, is wedded to routine.  Ignoring or accepting countless economic and political disruptions to their supply of materials, companies continue to negotiate annually with their established networks of suppliers or sources.  But many purchasing managers’ skills and outlooks were formed 20 years ago in an […]

Posted in: Commentary, Finances

Okay, Technically this isn’t a “business” purchasing story but . . .

September 19, 2011

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I have to admit that perhaps having past the half century mark a couple of years ago, I may not get enough bran in my diet but . . . the following is an article I had posted in the 49th Parallel Forum blog earlier today and I just had to share it with my […]

Posted in: Commentary

Bridging the disconnect between finance and purchasing (Part 4): Determining true economic performance through real-time production logistics

September 16, 2011

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“It is equally important to measure the allocation of financial resources that look beyond standard capital investment analysis tools such as time value of money, rate of return, salvage value, and so on, and take into account the ongoing value to the equity stakeholders in securing this investment.  Economic Value Add (EVA), a financial analysis […]

Posted in: Commentary, Finances