{"id":2596,"date":"2009-01-20T13:50:00","date_gmt":"2009-01-20T13:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/2009\/01\/20\/will-obamas-inauguration-change-supplier-diversity\/"},"modified":"2021-07-20T07:50:35","modified_gmt":"2021-07-20T11:50:35","slug":"will-obamas-inauguration-change-supplier-diversity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/blog\/will-obamas-inauguration-change-supplier-diversity\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Obama’s Inauguration Change Supplier Diversity?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m excited. Today, Barack Obama becomes the new president of the United States of America at a time when we need leadership out of many challenging situations.<\/p>\n

One of the often discussed topics about today\u2019s long-anticipated inauguration is the fact that Obama will be the first African-American president. In my opinion, this is a moment like no other that demonstrates that all Americans are equal \u2013 the way we should be.<\/p>\n

So, let\u2019s transition the discussion to purchasing. Supplier diversity, in particular.<\/p>\n

Supplier diversity programs are generally designed to encourage the use of suppliers meeting certain ownership criteria and, in some cases, to \u201cset aside\u201d a percentage of a procurement award for only suppliers meeting such criteria, sometimes called \u201cdisadvantaged businesses.\u201d Supplier diversity programs, in many cases, have the apparent mission of making up for inequities in cultural treatment that members of certain ethnic demographics have received, not received, or have been subjected to.<\/p>\n

Consider this excerpt from techtarget.com: \u201cA Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) is a small business that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged\u2026The [United States Small Business Administration] defines socially disadvantaged groups as those who have been, historically, subjected to \u2018racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within the larger American culture. Identified groups include African Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and Subcontinent Asian Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, with a member of one of those \u201cdisadvantaged\u201d groups now having risen to become the President of the United States of America \u2013 arguably, the most important job in the world \u2013 should that group still be considered \u201cdisadvantaged\u201d for procurement purposes?<\/p>\n

Does Obama\u2019s inauguration signal that equality has been reached for business purposes?<\/p>\n

Could supplier diversity be on its way to obsolescence?<\/p>\n

Is supplier diversity more of a throwback to the days of Ronald Reagan\u2019s presidency, when he signed Executive Order 12432, than it is applicable in the days of Barack Obama\u2019s presidency?<\/p>\n

Times are clearly changing for the better. Will supplier diversity change also?<\/p>\n

Time will tell. In the meantime, let\u2019s give our support to our new president with the faith that he\u2019ll make our world a better place and resolve some of the more important questions about the future of our planet.<\/p>\n

Recommended Reading<\/b><\/p>\n