While searching through the SM archive this article on "Killer Sourcers" from February 2003 caught my eye.
The feature explained how a new breed of purchasing professional was being developed. These buyers were ruthless negotiators with little care for supplier relationships or management.
It seems that the opposite is true now, with companies investing a huge amount of money and time in working with, rather than against, their suppliers.
Whatever happened to the "killer sourcers"? Do they still exist in the purchasing profession?
Judging from the "Strategic Account Management Association", many in the sales profession are still viewing buyers as focussed purely on unit costs. http://www.strategicaccounts.org/events/webinars/022108.html.
Some more comments on the topic http://alanbuxton.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/sales-vs-procurement/
Posted by: Alan Buxton | February 19, 2008 at 09:06 AM