Upstart Blog Upstart Blog Blog Upstart |
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| That Blog Upstart! That Blog Upstart! I do not like that Blog Upstart! |
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Do you like the content art? |
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| I do not like it, Blog Upstart. I do not like the content art. |
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Would you like it here or there? |
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| I would not like it here or there. I would not like it anywhere. I do not like the content art. I do not like it, Blog Upstart. |
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Would you like it on the page? Would you like it from a sage? |
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| I do not like it on the page. I do not like it from a sage. I do not like it here or there. I do not like it anywhere.I do not like the content art. I do not like it, Blog Upstart. |
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Would you read it in a box? Would you read it in your socks? |
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| Not in a box. Not in my socks. Not on the page Not from a sage. I would not read it here or there. I would not read it anywhere. I do not like the content art. I do not like it, Blog Upstart. |
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Would you? Could you? In a car? Read it! Read it! Here they are. |
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| I would not, could not, in a car. |
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You may like it. You will see. You may like it in a tree! |
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| I would not, could not, in a tree. Not in a car! You let me be.I do not like it in a box. I do not like it in my socks. I do not like it on the page. I do not like it from a sage. I do not like it here or there. I do not like it anywhere. I do not like the content art. I do not like it, Blog Upstart. |
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A train! A train! Could you, would you, on a train? |
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| Not on a train! Not in a tree! Not in a car! Blog, let me be!I would not, could not, in a box. I would not, could not, in my socks. I will not read it on the page. I will not read it from a sage. I will not read it here or there I will not read it anywhere. I do not like the content art. I do not like it, Blog Upstart. |
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Say! In the dark? Here in the dark! Would you, could you, in the dark? |
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| I would not, could not, in the dark. |
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Would you, could you, in the rain? |
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| I would not, could not, in the rain. Not in the dark. Not on a train. Not in a car. Not in a tree. I do not like it, Blog, you see. Not on the page. Not in a box. Not from a sage. Not in my socks. I will not read it here or there. I will not read it anywhere. |
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You do not like the content art? |
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| I do not like it, Blog Upstart. |
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Could you, would you, in your coat? |
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| I would not, could not, in my coat. | |
Would you, could you, on a boat? |
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| I could not, would not, on a boat. I will not, will not, in my coat. I will not read it in the rain. I will not read it on a train. Not in the dark. Not in a tree. Not in a car. You let me be. I do not like it in a box. I do not like it in my socks. I will not read it on the page. I will not read it from a sage. I do not like it here or there. I do not like it ANYWHERE.I do not like the content art. I do not like it, Blog Upstart. |
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You do not like it. So you say. Try it! Try it! And you may. Try it and you may, I say. |
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| Blog! If you will let me be. I will try it. You will see.Say! I like the content art. I do! I like it, Blog Upstart. And I would read it in a boat. And I would read it in my coat. And I will read it in the rain. So I will read it in a box. I do so like |
Category Archives: Miscellaneous
Thirty Five Years Ago Today …
Apple Computer’s Macintosh personal computer goes on sale in the United States, beginning an era. As the first mass-market PC with a GUI (graphical user interface), built-in screen, and mouse, it set a new standard for the modern computer age.
While it wasn’t adopted en-masse initially due to its high cost (compared to the Commodore 64 and the IBM clone market), it set a new standard when when Apple consolidate down to 4 models 5 years later — the Power Mac G3, the iMac, the PowerBook G3, and the iBook — with more competitive prices and aesthetic designs, Apple became profitable and started its trek to become the brand of choice for the discerning enthusiast.
Now every device, including our pocket phones, have built in screens, GUIs, and trackpads (mouse replacements). The Macintosh ushered in a computing revolution. It just took a few years longer than Apple expected.
What Should Drive PE Investment?
The M&A frenzy cycle that we have been discussing on and off for the past year hasn’t really died down, and this has spurred the PE cycle where PE (Private Equity) firms, wanting to capitalize on the frenzy around the Procurement space, are buying (majority investments in) vendors (that appear) ripe for a turn-around or market growth with just a little boost to their platform.
By investing in the right platforms, PE forms are looking to acquire vendors that they can flip (public or private to a bigger PE firm or bigger software vendor) before the M&A frenzy dies down. But just buying any old firm — regardless of how good the turn-around opportunity looks, how good the base technology platform is, or how much the vendor’s platform can be improved with additional investment or roll-up acquisitions — isn’t the answer.
Nor should the vendor follow the same rules that companies should follow when doing M&A. What should a P&E firm look for?
Operations
The firm should either have an efficient operational model or the P&E firm should be able to make the model efficient. If overheads are too high, there should be a way to bring them down quickly — either through new leasing arrangements, new (data center) hosting arrangements, cheaper back-office support operations (using PE personnel or outsourced providers for non-critical operations, etc.).
Talent
Whether the goal is a turn-around, an improved platform, or just taking the platform to a wider market, that’s going to take talent. The majority of the core talent that built the solution and the core talent that can take it to market, sell it, and implement it should still be at the company. Otherwise, it might be a better investment to build something from scratch.
Portfolio Synergy
Whether it’s turnaround or a growth strategy through an improved platform, there typically needs to be results within a few years. The best way to make this happen is if the solution has synergy with the customer base in the rest of the portfolio. For example, if the solution being considered is an indirect sourcing platform but most of the customers in the PE firms stable of companies are direct sourcing manufacturers, the PE firm will have zero advantage in trying to take the solution to market.
Just like M&A vendors should not pursue mergers or acquisitions that get synergy from redundancy, PE firms should not pursue acquisitions that just look cost effective. Only those investments in firms with solid platforms, good talent, efficient operations, and and an attractiveness to the markets they know are worthwhile, as those are the only companies with near-term growth potential — and the only companies the market will want to consider.
Hopefully PE firms will take this advice and save/grow those companies that will help the market as a whole. Only time will tell.
Fifty Years Ago Today …
Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 perform the first-ever docking of manned spacecraft in orbit and the first-ever transfer of crew from one space vehicle to another (which was also the only time such a transfer was accomplished with a space walk).
This was a historic event in space exploration as it is one of the capabilities necessary to have a(n International) Space Station and we’re not going to reach the age of extra-planetary supply management (Part II and Part III) unless we can build space stations and efficiently dock spacecraft with them on inter-planetary supply runs.
One Hundred Years Ago Today …
The UK began its effort to leave the dark ages with the first general election where women were permitted to vote and the first woman was elected to the Commons.
If only it would finish its exit of the dark ages in Procurement, which, sadly, in many organizations is still controlled by white males in their fifties.
While the doctor does not want to be stereotypical, he does want to be realistic — Procurement is simply better when there are multiple perspectives (and skills) at the table. And without the second gender, you’re clearly leaving half the perspective and skill off of the table (and that is simple, irrefutable, math).