An exploration of the methodologies and theory behind category management over the course of two days, focusing in particular on how to generate and mitigate the loss of value through this process.

Learning outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, delegates will be equipped with:

• An overview of the category management process from end-to-end, looking at the various activities and theories that comprise said process. The delegate will also develop a keen understanding of how vital the category management process is and will be able to reinforce this in the eyes of their stakeholders.
• An understanding of how a category manager influences and drives this process, focusing on how the individual can deliver value to the group though the appropriate application of their understanding.
• Critical knowledge and confidence around how to engineer plans for category development, factoring in complexity and responding accordingly.
• A grasp of the strategies behind category management that can assist driving towards the desired outcomes when contending with supplier performance and demand.
• The skills to delineate between different types of category management relating to procurement, purchasing, and sourcing, as well as awareness around how to mitigate potential risks surrounding role conflict and wrongheaded stratagems.

A look at the various methodologies, theories and techniques that assist in managing contracts, explored across a one-day workshop.

Learning outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, delegates will be equipped with:

• An understanding of the role of contract management, and how vital the role of a contract manager is in the procurement lifecycle. Furthermore, the course will explore how vital strong relationship management is for the role.
• The ability to outline the various components of a contract and the lifecycle of its management. This includes a run through of the variety of contract management tools that are in common use, and also how to apply them.
• The skills to identify and plan around contract variations, and manage potential risks in regards to them.
• The tools to realise the intent of a contract in practice and put the deliverables into effect.
• A look at the contract management planning process, and how to ensure this is appropriate for the given contracts in play.

There are few elements more pivotal to the overall procurement process than a well-defined, accessible yet thorough specification. This one-day workshop provides a crash course in ensuring the robust development of a specification for a product or service.

Learning outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, delegates will be equipped with:

• The ability to draft an accessible and clear specification, using strong and correct language and cutting out undue and potentially dangerous ambiguity that might damage the end service.
• An understanding of the process to develop, evaluate, and review a specification, ensuring that anything published can be understood and interpreted correctly by the intended audience. This also pertains to the degree to which the organisation can assess the ultimate performance of delivery.
• The skillset to draft specifications that will ultimately achieve the desired outcome for the organisation, and that are tailored to the degree of complexity involved in a given category.
• The knowledge to diagnose when a more generic or market-geared specification is appropriate, or when more specific or client-unique standards are required, and then the tools and skills to proceed accordingly.
• An understanding of how to identify what in a specification drives quality, and how best to close present and future performance gaps.

A two-day overview of the essentials of procurement from end-to-end, exploring the various ways that each process can add value.

Learning outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, delegates will be equipped with:

• An understanding of the procurement process from end-to-end, with a particular focus on how value is added with each component. Within this, delegates will also understand how the role of procurement is far more intensive than straightforward transactional purchasing.
• A look at appropriate demeanour and approach when going out to tender and dealing with suppliers, and how to mitigate potential risks posed by supplier behaviour.
• The ability to identify and separate the tools used to engage the market, such as Requests for Information and/or Proposals, and ultimately the usage of those systems.
• An understanding of how expertise in the procurement field is ultimately essential, particularly around how that expertise is applied.
• The ability to demonstrate and define value by implementing a variety of evaluation tools and theories.