This topic seems to be a recurrent one in the world of procurement (sourcing or purchasing too). When I first started testing the procurement waters, it was straight forward: “just get the products/services we need”. That was easy, most of the time: negotiations were happening…
So, by the time this article will be out, the Canucks will have defended their dream in the NHL playoffs. Whether they will have succeeded or not, I let the experts debate on their over-analysed forecast and solid theories. I just know that for this…
Two years… It has been two years one of my clients has been “working” on a project, and it is still not resolved. Two years to choose a “simple” shirt as part of the company uniform (and identity). Here I come, and the expectations are…
Is that a question? Should this be in opposition? Or even compared? All of us may not share the same values, yet I believe, from a Western world perspective at least, we all know the right from the not-so-right. The question lies in the manner…
That is what I thought when one of my clients decided to go with a supplier he knew, over a newbie with his aggressive pricing proposal. Not that I was shocked, as my client wanted to ensure the selected supplier was actually going to make…
Working as part of a team can be tough, yes: composing with diversities of personalities while managing multiple projects at the same time can make some situations more delicate than others. And confrontation (ooh, strong and bad word) comes into play. Not fun, obviously. Mind…
Grit? What grit? The type of sand the Scots used in Upper Canada to make mortar? Hailee Steinfeld’s or Kim Darby’s stubborn character in the Coen Brothers film? Maybe that is the courage one shows when facing difficulties. Or a bit of all of the…
Responding after a disaster such as the earthquake and the tsunami in Japan last week or the earthquake in Haiti early 2010 requires a strict logistics procedure. It is not about paperwork: not when the emergency response team gets to the location, that would be too late,…
Welcome to the XXIst. century, where almost everything needs to be measured, counted for and tracked, as meticulously as possible. Did Abraham Maslow do our era a favour? What he defined as fundamental in life moved to the business section, and Time has fallen into one of the…
Attending a conference call with enthusiastic consultants today made me think a bit harder about Perception: I know, it is rather subjective. The question brought up to the table came back in the conversation: as consultants, are we consistently driving the right perception to the…