Managing Indirect Spend. Enhancing Profitability Through Strategic Sourcing

Managing corporate spend is far more complex than conducting RFPs. Learn how the most efficient and effective procurement departments operate, control costs, enforce compliance, and manage indirect spend. Managing Indirect Spend provides executives and procurement professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to successfully reduce costs with a strong focus on the often-overlooked area of indirect spend. It also offers great value to those procurement and purchasing professionals aspiring to be leaders in the profession, regardless of the spend they manage. It includes an overview of the challenges faced when sourcing indirect spend categories, a detailed dive into the strategic sourcing process, tools that can help drive savings, technologies that drive efficiencies and compliance, and examples of success based on real-world experience. It is a how-to guide that clearly covers sourcing engagements of any complexity and provides the details needed to source effectively. The book is structured into sections covering the sourcing and procurement process, the tools and technologies, examples from the field, walkthroughs of specific sourcing engagements, guidance on building an effective sourcing team, and the information needed to become a best-in-class sourcing organization. Since the initial publication of this book, the procurement profession and the discipline of Strategic Sourcing have matured. Markets have changed, processes developed, trends have come and gone, and technology has experienced leaps and bounds, posing new and interesting challenges for procurement professionals. In addition to covering tried-and-true practices for strategic sourcing, this Second Edition discusses how strategic sourcing has evolved and provides an update on the techniques, tools, and resources available to purchasing groups. This book: Includes updated coverage of everything you need to know to source more effectively Covers the latest trends in procurement and sourcing, including technology, process improvements and organizational design Presents guidance for reducing costs through strategic sourcing, no matter what the economic climate or level of maturity of the existing procurement organization Shows how effectively managing indirect costs can provide a huge impact on bott m line growth Introduces Market Intelligence (MI), including techniques, tools, and resources available to procurement and supply chain management groups With tools, real-world examples, and practical strategies, Managing Indirect Spend provides insider guidance for big bottom-line growth through effective management of indirect costs.

The latest best practice guidance on all aspects of global strategic sourcing-including environmental and international issues Strategic Global Sourcing Best Practices covers the latest trends and leading edge processes in global strategic sourcing, including supply management, t, sustainability, financial decisions, risk management, and international strategies. Offers the latest trends and guidance for sourcing and supply managers Features coverage of understanding sourcing, procurement and supply management, procurement and best business practices, best practices in sourcing management and global sourcing management, financial strategies for sourcing, responsible procurement,diversity procurement, managing risk, supplier selection, project management for procurement and supply managers, managing supplier relationships, international sourcing, managing supplier relationships supply management operations, With the rise of global supply chains, environmental/sustainability concerns, and constantly evolving technology, the time is right for understanding Strategic Global Sourcing Best Practices.

Explore the interplay between corporate governance and strategic decision-making in this startling new resource In Understanding and Managing Strategic Governance , strategy and management experts Dr. Wei Shi and Robert E. Hoskisson deliver an insightful exploration of the influence that governance actors, like the board of directors, activist investors, institutional investors, and securities analysts, have on important strategic decisions. Based on surveying the latest research and analyzing unique datasets compiled by the authors, the book explains the impact that governance actors have on a firm’s strategic choices and the quality of such choices as well as the unintended consequences of that impact. The authors also describe how executives can manage the conflicting interests of multiple governance actors and leverage the influence of these actors to make effective strategic decisions. In this book, you’ll discover: How to avoid the strategic pitfalls that arise from governance actor influence and harm firms’ long-term competitiveness The effect that governance actors can have on corporate strategy, competitive strategy, corporate innovation strategy, global strategy, stakeholder strategy, and more The latest trends in corporate governance and their implications for managers, regulators, and policy makers in this area Perfect for C-level executives, board of directors, and institutional investors as well as students of corporate governance and strategy, Understanding and Managing Strategic Governance is a revealing and original examination of the interplay between corporate governance and firm strategy and how to manage that interplay to create sustainable competitive advantages.

Whether you are a global Fortune 500 organization or a small business Managing Customers Through Economic Cycles show you how to optimize your business's sales and marketing approaches specific to survive and thrive in each economic cycle and transition. «The business case for continuing to invest in service and innovation can be compromised by an economic downturn. McKean clearly lays out the case for weathering the economic storm by achieving a careful balance of investment in the areas that truly matter – and continually using data to reinforce the idea that business can be more science than art, after all.» —Barbara Higgins, Vice-President, Worldwide Contact Centers, United Airlines «John McKean's work has served as practical guide for me and my teammates. I have seen countless examples of businesses managing their customers’ experience with a short term economic view. If the right principles are employed consistently, as John teaches us, we can create the right emotional experience that delivers growth and loyalty – as well as the improved operating leverage – that are needed in good times and in tough times. Consistency of values and experiences keeps companies from having to be reactionary and short sighted in a down economy. Thanks, John, for another practical lesson.» —John Quinn, former Customer Service and Support Executive, Bank of America «In good times and bad, forecasting where business is headed is both art and science. As John McKean so eloquently states, marrying data driven analytics with consumer insight is critical for managing through tough economic cycles. This book is a must read for anyone intent on driving greater profitability and consistently out-behaving the competition.» —Joni Newkirk, CEO, Integrated Insight, Inc., former SVP, Business Insight & Improvement, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts «John McKean continues his pursuit of the profitable customer through the turbulent world of boom and bust. His book provides valuable insights into how businesses survive and thrive in a volatile economic climate.» —Trevor Dukes, Business Systems, WH Smith «The rise of customer power coupled with challenging economic conditions demand that organizations leverage the power of the Internet and related technologies to stay relevant to their customers. As John McKean points out in his compelling new book, successful firms have built a core competency in leveraging information technology not only to survive economic transitions but thrive in an ever-changing economy.» —Erik Brynjolfsson, Professor, MIT Sloan School and co-author of Wired for Innovation: How Information Technology is Reshaping the Economy «It would be hard to name a more relevant or timely topic for sales and marketing today than that of how to cope with economic downturns and upturns, and this is exactly the subject John McKean has insightfully tackled head-on in Managing Customers Through Economic Cycles.» —Don Peppers and Martha Rogers, Ph.D., Peppers & Rogers Group

Revolutionary techniques that traders can implement to improve profits and avoid losses No trader, professional or individual, can afford not to have a solid risk management program integrated into his or her trading system. But finding a precise mathematical model to replace subjective decision-making processes is a challenge. Traditionally, risk management has focused solely on loss avoidance, but in Trading Risk, hedge fund risk manager Kenneth Grant presents some-thing completely new—how to manage a portfolio to minimize risk and increase profits by putting more capital at risk. Trading Risk details a risk management program that can help both money managers and individual traders evaluate which elements in a portfolio are working efficiently and which aren’t. By illustrating an extremely simple set of statistical and arithmetic tools this book can help readers enhance their performance in many financial markets. Kenneth L.Grant is Cheyne’s Global Risk Manager, and is the Managing Member for Cheyne Capital, LLC, the firm’s U.S. arm. Mr. Grant is a pioneer in the field of hedge fund risk management and capital allocation. Before joining Cheyne, he created risk control programs at two of the world’s leading hedge funds, Tudor Investments and SAC Capital, where he was eventually promoted to the title of Chief Investment Strategist. Mr. Grant holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin, an MA in Economics from Columbia University, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

A comprehensive guide to essential theories and practices of change creation and implementation Organizational Change provides an essential overview to implementing deliberate and focused change through effective communication strategies. Author Laurie Lewis integrates academic rigor with real-world case studies to provide a comprehensive examination of both theoretical and pragmatic approaches to alterations and modifications of organizational structures. Emphasizing the importance of formal and informal communication in implementation of change, this text investigates methods of information dissemination and examines various channels for communicating change. Coverage of stakeholder relationships, concepts of uncertainty and resistance, assessing change outcomes, and more provides readers with a solid foundational knowledge of change dynamics in organizations. Extensively revised and updated, this second edition provides new case studies on topics such as design of input solicitation, and current research in areas including the persuasive effects of sidedness or inoculation, and socially supportive communication. Improved pedagogical tools, streamlined organization of topics, and additional charts, graphs, and images reinforce efficient presentation of material and increase reader retention and comprehension. Examines empirical, theoretical, and conceptual approaches to strategic communication during organization change Explores key elements of change, appropriate communication strategies, and outcome evaluation methods Presents adaptive and programmatic strategic implementation models Provides studies of real-world companies and actual research on organizational change Debunks popular myths and clarifies misunderstandings of research and theory on implementation of change Demonstrates how Individuals, groups, and entire organizations can create change and influence implementation. Organizational Change provides a thorough survey of the communication and implementation strategies, methods, and conceptual foundations of change in public and private sector organizations, suitable for undergraduate and graduate study and practitioners with interest in complex change implementation.

The practical guide to using pricing and profitability management to build a better business A comprehensive reference for any business professional looking to understand the capabilities and competencies required for effectively managing pricing and profitability, Pricing and Profitability Management explains how to determine the right approach, tools, and techniques for each of six key categories (pricing strategy, price execution, advanced analytics and optimization, organizational alignment and governance, pricing technology and data management, and tax and regulatory effectiveness). Exploring each category in detail, the book addresses how an integrated approach to pricing improvement can give a sustainable, competitive advantage to any organization. The ultimate «how to» manual for any executive or manager interested in price management, the book presents a holistic, comprehensive framework that shows how integrating these pricing categories into a cohesive program leads to impressive gains that cannot be achieved through a single-pronged approach. Presents a comprehensive framework for more effectively managing pricing and profitability Identities the six key categories of pricing and profitability management Shows you how to gain a competitive edge by managing pricing and profitability Taking a comprehensive view of pricing, companies can position themselves to tap a vast source of shareholder value—the ability to set and enforce profitable prices, not just once, but again and again in response to marketplace changes and evolving business needs—and this book will show you how.

Manufacturers can be green and highly profitable at the same time Profits do not have to be sacrificed to environmental responsibility, or vice versa. Following this book's tested and proven approach, readers discover how to create and operate manufacturing facilities that are highly profitable while meeting or exceeding the environmental standards of their local community, state, and federal governments. The authors' approach is broad in scope, setting forth the roles and responsibilities of organizational functions such as marketing, product design, manufacturing technology, management, and human resources. The book begins with an overview explaining why profitability and green manufacturing must be viewed as a single objective. Next, the book becomes a «how to» guide to creating and maintaining an environmentally compliant and profitable manufacturing operation, with chapters covering: Manufacturing, waste, and regeneration Building a decision-making model Environmental regulation, standards, and profitability Case studies Tools used to improve manufacturing operations The facility Applying the profitable and compliant process chart The final chapter is dedicated to a step-by-step approach in the application and use of the profitable and compliant process chart, a core working tool discussed in the book. In this chapter, several actual manufacturing applications, along with their worksheets, are presented to illustrate how this approach can minimize resources and waste. Armed with this comprehensive systems approach, readers will no longer view profitability and green manufacturing as two opposing goals. Instead, they'll have the tools and knowledge needed to create and maintain a manufacturing operation that is both profitable and green.

The Challenges and Joys of Juggling There has been growing demand for workshops and materials to help those in higher education conduct and use the scholarship of teaching and learning. This book offers advice on how to do, share, and apply SoTL work to improve student learning and development. Written for college-level faculty members as well as faculty developers, administrators, academic staff, and graduate students, this book will also help undergraduate students collaborating with faculty on SoTL projects. Though targeted at those new to the field of SoTL, more seasoned SoTL researchers and those attempting to support SoTL efforts will find the book valuable. It can be used as an individual reading, a shared reading in SoTL writing circles, a resource in workshops on SoTL, and a text in seminars on teaching. Contents include: Defining SoTL The functions, value, rewards, and standards for SoTL work Working with colleagues, involving students, writing grants, integrating SoTL into your professional life, and finding useful resources Practical and ethical issues associated with SoTL work Making your SoTL public and documenting your work The status of SoTL in disciplinary and institutional contexts Applying the goals of SoTL to enhance student learning and development.