{"id":11092,"date":"2021-04-05T00:31:33","date_gmt":"2021-04-05T04:31:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/?page_id=11092"},"modified":"2021-10-05T10:57:55","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T14:57:55","slug":"procurement-swimsuit-issue","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/news\/purchasing-articles\/procurement-swimsuit-issue\/","title":{"rendered":"Procurement Swimsuit Issue"},"content":{"rendered":"

The \u201cProcurement Swimsuit Issue?\u201d<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>

PurchTips edition #369<\/p>\n<\/div>

How Can A Swimsuit Magazine\u2019s Principles Apply To Procurement?<\/h4><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Every year at this time, it\u2019s hard to escape the media buzz for the release of the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Believe it or not, there are actually three principles of the Swimsuit Issue that procurement professionals and leaders should apply to their work and departments.\u00a0 They are\u2026<\/p>\n

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  1. Be more revealing.<\/strong>\u00a0Every year, the bikinis in the Swimsuit Issue seem to show more and more skin. Likewise, Procurement should strive to be more revealing of its supplier selection criteria and methodologies. Procurement is often distrusted. Internal customers don\u2019t know how or why certain suppliers were selected. When \u201cleft to the imagination,\u201d internal customers may even think that procurement was bribed by successful bidders. So, being more revealing can inspire trust and compliance. Of course, there are some things \u2013 like strategic plans and trade secrets \u2013 that should be saved for \u201cspecial someones\u201d in the organization. But, in general, the more you reveal, the better.<\/li>\n
  2. Keep up with the times.<\/strong>\u00a0If you compare the earliest Swimsuit Issue covers with the most recent ones, there\u2019s quite a difference. Not only is the swimwear smaller, but the hairstyles, makeup, and bodies of the models have changed. If this year\u2019s cover model looked and dressed like the 1983 cover model, there would be outrage among the Swimsuit Issue fan base! So, think about your procurement processes. Are they more like the modest procurement processes of 1983 or the smoking hot procurement processes of 2017? There should be a constant focus on modernizing procurement processes.<\/li>\n
  3. Be incredibly reliable.<\/strong>\u00a0Imagine if, one year, Sports Illustrated issued a press release saying \u201cOops, there was a problem. We won\u2019t have a Swimsuit Issue this year.\u201d There just may be riots in the streets! But that doesn\u2019t happen. Sports Illustrated delivers, on-time, year after year. Everyone expects the Swimsuit Issue at a certain time and, regardless of any challenges, Sports Illustrated never disappoints. Every procurement department should strive to be perceived as being equally as reliable as Sports Illustrated is in publishing the Swimsuit Issue.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
    Want A More Rewarding Procurement Career?<\/h5><\/div>
    <\/span><\/div>

    Are you tired of not getting enough opportunities, respect, and money out of your procurement career? Nothing will change unless you take action towards becoming a world-class procurement professional. Work your way up NLPA\u2019s CPO Suite Programs, an enhanced version of our SPSM certifications and bring the most modern procurement practices into your organization and achieve your career potential.<\/p>\n

    Download our NLPA Course Catalog<\/strong> for a comprehensive list of the CPO Certification Programs and their corresponding modules per level.<\/p>\n<\/div>

    Download<\/span><\/a><\/div>