Instructor’s Manual
9
© Pearson Education Limited 2015
Teaching Notes
All organisations need inputs of goods and services from external suppliers or providers.
In this chapter, we examine the developing role of the purchasing and supply function in
managing these inputs, and comment upon the ways in which the activity can contribute to the
efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation, offering mini case studies demonstrating how
companies are developing their purchasing/procurement contribution.
We identify ways of measuring the stage of development reached by an organisation and
demonstrate how the development stage reached can affect performance of the purchasing
activity.
Key concepts covered in this chapter, therefore, include a comparison of traditional procurement
approaches with a more strategic value-added procurement approach, utilising the models by
Reck and Long, Sysons and Jones, as cited above in Figures 1.7, 1.8 and 1.9.
Many cases have been included as examples of how companies are making/have made the
transition to a more strategic procurement approach and they include the benefits being enjoyed
as a result.
For example, the mini case study of Unisys in page 13, demonstrates the dramatic changes
which can be made as procurements moves from a disorganised, fragmented approach to a more
strategic approach using best practice techniques.
The other cases can be used to demonstrate the similar approach being adopted as companies
make the transition.
The case study of Sanofi near the end of the chapter is a most useful vehicle for allowing
students to assess and evaluate the Critical Success Factors in the development of the function
Students can also be asked to match the categories contained in the Kraljic matrix, with the
categories contained in the Supplier Preferencing model as these are key positioning tools for an
organisation.
For example, a Critical item on the Kraljic matrix would want to be positioned in the Develop or
Core box in the Supplier Preferencing model.
Students can be asked to look for the key pre-requisites which have been identified across these
cases, and to present an overall summary.
The following list includes many of the ideas taught to students of purchasing/procurement at
all levels.
Clearly, this good practice will not be practicable in an organisation with a less than fully
developed purchasing function.
• Identify and work with key suppliers
• Develop openness and transparency
• Align systems with strategic initiatives