ISM - Past Conference Materials - Supply Management in the Decade Ahead: Identifying Strategic Imperatives

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Supply Management in the Decade Ahead: Identifying Strategic Imperatives

ISM's 93rd Annual International Supply Management Conference

St. Louis, MO
May 2008

Author(s):

John D. Blascovich C.P.M., Vice President, A.T. Kearney, Inc.

Robert Monczka, Ph.D., Arizona State University Distinguished Research Professor and CAPS Director of Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain Strategy Research

Conference attendees learned several key strategies which they — and their organizations-at-large — will need for success in the coming decade in this dynamic session led by Arizona State University Distinguished Research Professor and CAPS Director of Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain Strategy Research Robert Monczka, Ph.D., and John Blascovich, C.P.M., a partner at A.T. Kearney.

Their recommendations are based on a joint study by CAPS Research, A.T. Kearney and ISM on the decade ahead in supply chain management, The Future of Purchasing and Supply: A Five- and Ten-Year Forecast. Supply management professionals in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia/Pacific participated.

Additionally, the presenters promoted the idea of establishing a solid business case — including an identifiable return-on-investment — as well as the development of a "transformation management plan" which covers risk identification and mitigations, priorities and a clear-cut outline of necessary actions.

Central to their presentation were seven future success factors identified through the research: more strategic category strategies; supplier management — improved working relationships with strategic suppliers; developing supply networks in which suppliers are more aware of their own suppliers' operations, especially as they relate to social responsibility and sustainability; using technology tools to categorize your spend and to work seamlessly with people in other offices or even countries; collaboration with and among the supply base, within the organization and with and among customers; talent management — finding, training and keeping skilled employees in a tightening talent market; and fostering organization enablement, or organizational structure.

Interpreting these factors, Monczka says the message is clear: "If you don't change in all these areas, you're going to become status quo."

A follow-up session tomorrow will focus on implementing these strategic imperatives.

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