22 October 2025
Is Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) the Ultimate Solution?
While SRM is definitely an answer, it's rarely the only answer. You need the basics in place before you can truly leverage the value creation of SRM.
Read Story →Procurement Stories
Theory is fine, but experience teaches better lessons. Here are stories, observations, and field notes from the front lines of complex procurement.
14 October 2025
Why Persuasive Anecdotes Triumph Over Hard Data
It's not about fighting stories with spreadsheets. It’s about making the data tell a story that's too compelling, clear, and strategic to ignore.
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1 October 2025
Rules vs. Reality - The NZ Government Procurement Refresh
The rules can be either a lever for value or a justification for inaction. Ultimately our role isn't just to enforce a process, it's to deliver outcomes.
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22 August 2025
Is Procurement the "Department of No"?
Not every workaround is malicious. Often it's a symptom of deeper issues. Ultimately, procurement should never be just about policing; it's about enabling.
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5 August 2025
The Common Denominator
When everything seems to be the problem, it's probably time to look in the mirror. Procurement magic happens when we genuinely understand others.
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22 July 2025
Best Practice vs. Right Practice
Blindly adopting 'best practice' might be missing the point entirely. It's about right-sizing our approach – picking the methods that genuinely fit our specific context.
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16 July 2025
Outsourcing Public Health - A Real-World Test of "Make vs. Buy"
A recent directive by the NZ Government to outsource surgeries is a powerful test of procurement strategy. In critical public services, when does a tactical 'buy' solution become a dangerous dependency?
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1 July 2025
Beyond the Rulebook - How to Drive Real Value
Moving from a culture of rules to one guided by Guidelines, Principles, and Outcomes is more than a procedural change; it's a leadership philosophy.
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28 June 2025
Procurement Risk - Moving Beyond Paralysis
If the goal of procurement was to eliminate all conceivable risk, we'd be in a state of commercial paralysis. Our role is to become enablers of calculated, strategic risk-taking.
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12 March 2025
The Least Helpful Four Words in Business
An "I told you so" moment isn't a victory; it's a data point for self-improvement. If I foresaw an issue and couldn't influence the outcome, my communication wasn't effective enough.
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10 November 2024
Changing How Your Business Sees Procurement
When procurement transformations stall, the culprit is rarely the technology. More often, it's the invisible barrier of how the wider business perceives procurement.
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28 September 2024
Breaking Out of the Procurement Echo Chamber
While there's value in our professional community, we might be limiting our impact by staying in our comfort zone. It's time to learn to speak multiple "business languages."
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12 August 2024
Why Some Procurement Transformations Fail
Genuine transformation requires more than new systems or restructuring – it demands a fundamental shift in how the procurement capability is positioned within the organisation.
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15 June 2024
Three Conversations Every Procurement Professional Should Have (But Most Don't)
These conversations require vulnerability, but they have genuinely transformed my approach to procurement relationships and delivered breakthrough value.
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20 May 2024
The Truth About "Procurement Excellence"
We love our buzzwords, but real impact isn't about chasing a perfect model. It's about building trust and actually helping the organization succeed.
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