Purchasing Magazine this month published a cover article entitled \u201cPurchasing 3.0\u201d which discussed how today\u2019s purchasing professionals are utilizing technology to be more effective.<\/p>\n
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This article is thought provoking on several levels. I\u2019ll be posting a two-part series on some of the positive points that I found in the article. I also encourage you to check out Michael Lamoureux\u2019s scathing review of the article on Sourcing Innovation for a different view point.<\/p>\n
So, today, I just want to highlight how the article encourages the use of Microsoft Project. Next Level Purchasing offers an online course called \u201cMicrosoft Project For Purchasing Professionals.\u201d While many procurement leaders know the value of expertly managing a project, we still occasionally hear from our potential clients \u201cWe won\u2019t enroll in that class because we don\u2019t use Microsoft Project.\u201d<\/p>\n
Well, I also say: \u201cYou don\u2019t use Microsoft Project, but should<\/em> you be using it?\u201d After all, it only helps coordinate the work of cross-functional teams, increases the probability that projects will be completed on-time and under budget, and provides management visibility into the progress of a large project with many \u201cmoving parts,\u201d among other things.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s an excerpt from the article where Jim Adkins, VP of Sourcing and Supply Chain for Bobcat, describes the value that Microsoft Project has brought to his organization:<\/p>\n Adkins says one easy-to-learn software package that many procurement \u201cAfter 15 years of program management in the U.S. Air Force, I learned the In fact, Adkins feels the people that are really good at sourcing are often It is always refreshing to me when I encounter someone who \u201cgets it\u201d with regard to the importance of project management, and the use of project management tools, in procurement. We started offering \u201cMicrosoft Project For Purchasing Professionals\u201d in 2001. Here in 2010, people are finally starting to catch up.<\/p>\n Part 2 coming soon!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Purchasing Magazine this month published a cover article entitled \u201cPurchasing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":4069,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement"],"yoast_head":"\n
\ndepartments could benefit from but often overlook is Microsoft\u2019s Project
\napplication. As procurement gets more involved in cross-functional teams
\nand programs \u2013 serving as the facilitator in many cases \u2013 leveraging some kind
\nof project management system can pay off in spades.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nvalue of project management and the value of the right project tracking tool,\u201d
\nAdkins says. \u201cWhether it\u2019s a savings project, running a bid project or
\neven new product development project, you have to know what your critical path
\nelements are and using these tools can help track that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\nthose with the strongest project management skills, and using the right tool
\n\u201cputs rigor to the process. I have been transitioning our organization in
\nthe last couple years and those are the kinds of tools it takes to drive
\nchange.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n