Strategic Procurement

The book concentrates on the 'why' and 'what' of good procurement, rather than the 'how'. It covers the whole spectrum, from the basics of what is indirect spend, to securing executive sponsorship for the function, looking at the strategic value of the function rather than the nuts and bolts of its implementation.

The new risk section starts with 'Chaos Theory', in the context of supply continuity, using the 2011 tsunami and the floods in Thailand to illustrate her points. She looks at what makes us vulnerable, then suggests some of the actions we can take to protect our organisations. The chapter on Cyber-crime won't be of value to every procurement reader; but the one titled 'Reputational Risk' certainly is. Overall, the book provides very thoughtful, readable and useful material...We thought the first edition was well worth buying and reading; the second is even better with important additions and updates.

Strategic Procurement provides a fresh and memorable perspective on the upside potential, common challenges, and unique capabilities of modern procurement, and recognizes new requirements such as risk management and M&A support.

This book takes the subject of strategic procurement and makes sense of it in a way we can all connect with. The key components of strategic procurement are explored in turn, including key concepts such as category and supplier management and CSR. The subject is contextualised in modern, organisational theory, and throughout the book, Booth weaves in a practical route map that demonstrates exactly what organisations need to put in place if procurement is to make a worthwhile contribution to organisational success. The book is a delight to read and brings the subject to life, made understandable through a rich collection of examples, practical tips, and by links to all our daily experiences. It does not feel like a business book at all but a compelling story of how to make procurement great, and that every senior manager should read.

Successful corporate executives recognize the opportunities presented by strategic procurement. This book shows readers how to cut costs while improving business processes, and focuses on the importance of supplier relationships. Topics covered include optimizing supply chains, understanding the role the entire enterprise plays in good procurement, making the company important to suppliers, dealing with mergers and acquisitions, managing supplier-related risk, and managing the rewards and pitfalls of global supply.