Buying for Business

Purchasing and supply management - what's it all about? Buying for Business gives you the answers in a manner that is engaging and thought-provoking in equal measure. It's relevant to every organization, from the smallest charity to the largest multinational - after all, there will never be a sale without a corresponding purchase - and to everyone from salesperson to shareholder. Whatever your sector, industry or job description, you'll almost certainly find that purchasing affects you. Written by two experts with insight into the key challenges facing the industry today, Buying for Business will prompt you to re-assess and re-think. Its straightforward information cuts through complexity, and its wry, people-focused approach will keep you entertained as well as informed. If you think you're involved in purchasing, read it and keep it by you. If you think you're not, read it anyway. You may need to think again. I started my business career as a buyer and the experience has informed my judgment and viewpoint to this day. This book covers the subject comprehensively and with a good balance of theory and practical experience. Buying for Business is a welcome arrival in an area that has been neglected in the past but which is vital to commercial success. -Sir John Harvey Jones, former ICI Chairman and Troubleshooter, UK At last an easy to read, pragmatic, useful book to help business managers understand procurement. The jargon is minimal and the language is in a style that any business person can relate to. Buying for Business demystifies procurement and gives useful hints and tips about how to manage procurement people, suppliers and customers. -Robin Cammish, CEO, QP Group, UK Buying for Business is a bold synthesis of theory and practice and should be welcomed by all for this. Not simply a how to do it book; there is real food for thought here. It is a refreshing change. -Richard Lamming, Director, School of Management, University of Southampton Buying for Business is a useful read for both purchasing and non-purchasing professionals who seek to lever purchasing beyond an art into a science. -John McKean, Executive Director, Center for Information Based Competition, USA Purchasing is too often overlooked by executives as a dull hygiene factor. As Barrat and Whitehead argue very effectively, purchasing can in fact be a strategic weapon, and the skill with which a company deploys it can make all the difference to both their bottom line and customer impact. I would recommend this introduction to the area. -Mark Scott, a director of the Ashridge Strategic Management Centre, UK