In my previous article, I discussed how procurement teams can help their businesses when buying support or services for open source software. There is another key issue procurement teams will have to understand in relation to implementations of this type–cloud.
It’s well known that 70% of change initiatives fail, mostly due to human factors such as employee resistance to change or lack of management support. On the other hand, when people are fully engaged and invested in change, they are 30% more likely to be successful. While the emphasis is mostly on how the envisioned change will result in a better future, recent research highlights an equally important aspect of change—continuity.
Procurement is old. Just how old you ask? Well, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… it’s been around for millennia. As a natural function of trade and commerce, it developed organically during the earliest civilizations. Papyrus records indicate procurement can be traced as far back as the Egyptians (the first Jedi) in 3000 B.C.
“Open source” describes a specific approach to creating, distributing and using software. Anyone can see how the source code for this software is put together, they can often use this software for free and they can potentially alter it to meet their own needs. But, if something is free, why do procurement teams need to get involved, and when can it lead to potential headaches?
Tests, from simple quizzes to formal corporate exams, are a valuable way to keep employees up to date on information and knowledge. In many industries, particularly those where mistakes could cost large sums of money, or even lives, regular testing is mandatory.
With 2020 just in the door, progressive CPOs and their teams are planning for the year ahead. Here are four major procurement trends to factor into your thinking.
With shifting trade tariffs and barriers, the unpredictability of Brexit and fluctuating commodity prices, market volatility could be at an all-time high over the next 12 months.
Regional SIGnature Events are powerful one-day meetings in which buy-side practitioners benchmark with other organizations and network with colleagues facing similar issues. The event offers executive roundtables, general session speakers, CPO presentations, analyst overviews and SIG Talks (15-minute discussions in a "Ted Talk" format), as well as our famous Provider Showcase program. Delegates will learn and network throughout the day, then wind down the afternoon with a happy hour, casual one-on-one discussions and a pocket full of long-term collegial relationships.
A lot has changed in 2020 and the way we work will never be the same again. Join us for a live virtual SIGnature Event that will feature stories of success and lessons learned from an unprecedented global pandemic that upended supply chains and the business world overnight.
JOIN THE DIGITAL ADVENTURE! Hundreds of procurement executives, experts and thought leaders from across the world are coming together to experience the world's largest digital industry event. The SIG Procurement Technology Summit will be a digital state-of-the-art experience that immerses you in the industry trends, innovations and solutions that are shaping high-performance teams and best-in-class procurement organizations.
