Tips for Self-Promotion in a Recessionary Environment
Over on Supply Excellence, Tim Minahan has some insightful tips for self-promotion -- and the promotion of the role of procurement -- in a recessionary environment. What does Tim suggest? He notes that "savvy supply executives will use this crisis as a lever to secure the resources, budget, technology, and policy changes required to drive their improvement initiatives. They will also leverage the economic downturn to demonstrate to secure a seat at the executive table." Personally, I think the best route to the executive table is not just the "cost" card -- that approach alone has failed in past downturns. However, playing the risk management angle along with cost reduction might very well do the trick this time around -- if your organization has the skills, talent and technology to back up its ideas and promises.
- Jason Busch
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Cost may get you an invitation to the executive table. But securing a permanent seat there will require you to demonstrate how supply management can contribute value to theorganization. As I noted in the Supply Excellence post you referenced:
"[Supply managers must] be certain this go around to use this new-found status to demonstrate how supply management can do more than hold down costs. Demonstrate supply management's value contribution potential by helping to identify innovation in the supply base, expand into new emerging marketplaces, support corporate compliance initiatives, and develop sustainable supply approaches that can reduce risks and boost long-term profits."
This is one issue we are in total agreement on.
Value creation is an essential function of supply management folks and another angle that I find intriguing is how companies are using spend management (or supply management) to create competitive advantages. For manufacturers, he who can manage commodity volatility best is also at a competitive advantage.