Monthly Archives: December 2016

On the Twelfth day of X-Mas (2016)


On the twelfth day of X-Mas
my blogger gave to me:
Optimizing Posts
Analysis Posts
Standard Sourcing Posts
Direct Sourcing Posts
Risk Management Posts
Sustainable Posts
e-Procurement Posts
some SRM Posts
some CLM Posts
some Best Practice Posts
some Trend Bashing Posts
and some ranting on stupidity …

The archives are full of posts on optimization. It’s the doctor‘s passion as it is one of only two advanced sourcing methodologies found to deliver double digit returns year after year after year, the one that is least applied, and the one with the most untapped potential. Data insights only take you so far. Optimization helps you do something about it.

Regardless of what any vendor might claim,
True Savings Can Only Be Identified Through Multi-Factor Optimization!
Anything else is just trimming the fat.

At the end of the day when the proverbial sh!t is about to hit the proverbial fan as the organization is still seeing red,
Only an Optimization-Backed Sourcing Platform will Answer a Buyer’s SOS.

That’s Why You Need Mass Adoption of An Optimization-Backed Sourcing Platform!

And in case you need a refresher, here’s
What Strategic Sourcing Decision Optimization Can Do!

In case you’re wondering, or still think optimization technology is in the usability dark ages, here’s a post on
Optimization: What’s Changed Since 2009.

And, before you think you have a hope of doing this in-house, here’s
Why You Should Not Build Your Own Decision Optimization solution!
the doctor is the leading independent authority on strategic sourcing decision optimization. Please heed his word.

The reality is that we’ve reached a point where it should be
Optimization-Backed Sourcing Platform … Or Bust!
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V

And even if you are applying strategic sourcing decision optimization today, all we can say is
So You Think You’ve Mastered Strategic Sourcing Decision Optimization? (Hint: you haven’t. But that’s a good thing. Just means there is more value to come your way.)

And, finally, we will wrap up this series by asking how we accelerate the adoption of optimization and analytics:
Part I
Part II

And leave you with our final thought-rant.
Millions Saved. Pennies Spent. Why Won’t They Learn?

Merry X-mas!

On the Eleventh day of X-Mas (2016)


On the eleventh day of X-Mas
my blogger gave to me:
Analysis Posts
Standard Sourcing Posts
Direct Sourcing Posts
Risk Management Posts
Sustainable Posts
e-Procurement Posts
some SRM Posts
some CLM Posts
some Best Practice Posts
some Trend Bashing Posts
and some ranting on stupidity …

Some of you might have thought we dished up the best first with our trend bashing posts and some ranting on stupidity. While those are some of the best posts SI has to offer, SI would like to think that its posts on Analysis and Optimization, the doctor‘s areas of expertise, are its crème de la crème. So, without further ado,

We know what spend analysis is (heck, the doctor co-wrote the book), but
What the Hell is Automated Spend Analysis?

Also, analysis is good because
Decisions Should be Data-Derived — But They Should Not Be Big Data Driven!

And even though you might think you can hire a high-school student and give him Microsoft Access and get a good analytics system on the cheap (as this was the complexity of many first generation contract management systems that, sad as it is, are still being sold today), the reality is that this is not the case and here is
Why You Should Not Build Your Own Analytics System

But all is not list. If you want to know, we will tell you
Spend Analysis – How You Get it Right?

In What Way Would the doctor Improve Spend Analysis? Glad you asked!
Part I
Part II
Part III

And we could not end this post without paying homage to the classic series by the old grey beard:
  I: The Value Curve
 II: The Psychology of Analysis
III: Common Sense Cleansing
 IV: Defining Analysis
  V: New Horizons Part I
 VI: New Horizons Part II

Come back tomorrow for the twelfth day of X-Mas.

On the Tenth day of X-Mas (2016)


On the tenth day of X-Mas
my blogger gave to me:
Standard Sourcing Posts
Direct Sourcing Posts
Risk Management Posts
Sustainable Posts
e-Procurement Posts
some SRM Posts
some CLM Posts
some Best Practice Posts
some Trend Bashing Posts
and some ranting on stupidity …

Yesterday we focused in on direct sourcing because most platforms, designed for indirect, weren’t up to snuff for direct sourcing and that needed to be pointed out before we launched into a more general discussion and review of (the best posts on) traditional strategic sourcing.

We’re going to start to explain it’s importance by pointing out that If One Wants to Avoid Cost, Then One Should Avoid Cost At All Costs! This is something most organizations don’t do.

When you realize this and go to market for a proper platform (upon which you can find much advice in the archives), remember that
SI Has Been Telling You Solution Provider RFX Templates SUCK for Years!
Solution Provider RFX Templates SUCK! What Do You Do?
So, Do You Throw Provider RFX Templates Out with the Packaging?

This is true whether they are templates to acquire a solution or acquire the products and services that you need to function as a business.

Then, when you get that platform, remember that
If You Are Going to Create RFPs, Avoid RFP Hell!

After all, you already have to contend with
Eight Reasons Best-in-Class Suppliers are Ignoring Your RFP
why give them more reasons to?

But don’t just switch your events over to e-Auctions, because it’s
Time to Remove e-Auctions from the Strategic Sourcing Toolkit.

There is a host of reasons for doing so. One reason is that
Bidding Flexibility is Important to e-Auction Success
but most e-Auction platforms don’t give you bidding flexibility.

Instead, what you get are
The Entanglements of e-Auctions.

In other words, before you put your faith in e-Auctions, ask yourself:
e-Auctions — Savings Machine or Inflation Nightmare?

Come back tomorrow for the eleventh day of X-Mas.