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Celebrate the great innovators like Stephen Covey, Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin, and more. Learn from their strategies and embrace innovation in your own leadership journey.
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Stephen G. Mack, CPSM, C.P.M. Associate Vice President Procurement Services Drexel University
Dr. Phillip E. Allsen Since I got my bachelor’s degree,” says Exercise Sciences Professor Philip Allsen, “I have never worked a day in my life. Work is something that you have to do, play is what you do by choice. I play.” After “playing” for over fifty years, Dr. Allsen retired September 1, 2011.
Stuck in the middle • Org Chart looks the same as it did 15 years ago • Value to organization is primarily derived from ability to enforce rules and process paper • Reactive to needs driven by end users • Believes that spend analytics has no great value in higher education procurement • Provides no planned strategy for staff development and training • Have goals that are not reflective of or consistent with the universities • Spend most of the time in the office buried in paperwork • Believes suppliers are necessary evil
Room at the Top • Deployment of Advisory Committees • Organized to be strategic • Investment in Staff Training • Automated Procure to Pay strategy • Procurement is in control of sourcing • Working cooperatively with Corporate Relations, Development and other areas of the University that are working with our suppliers • Creating Strategic Relationships with key suppliers – not just a good deal on product costs • Using a variety of best in class purchasing methods • Reverse auction • RFP’s • Standardization • Rationalization • Do regular outreach, focus groups and training • Have high percentage of contract compliance and spend under management
Video • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiIV8Jcthmw
Great Advice (Burr Millsap) • You have to be willing to take some risks and get slapped down. • It helps to be able to write well. Learn how. Get published. Get your name out there. • It helps to be able to speak publicly. Join Toastmasters or take the Dale Carnegie course. • You can never be prepared enough. On all initiatives do your homework. Prepare, prepare, prepare! • Anticipate the negatives • Bounce off of peers • Develop strategy • Seek a mentor (or two or three)
Great Advice-Continued • (Almost) Never let emotion rule your professional behavior. Especially in disputes. • Stick to the issues • Stay logical • Stay nice, decent, professional • Use humor intelligently to diffuse situations • Always do a 360 degree scan. Avoid putting yourself in situations where your integrity is questioned. • Learn how to hire well. When you get the right person, the hard work is done. • Never hesitate to spread the credit around. • Be generous with praise where it’s due • Be public about it often • Never (unless you really mean to and want to) let yourself get isolated from your boss. • Touch base daily • Keep communications open and fluid • Develop a sense of those things you can do on your own versus those that need higher approval (air cover)
Avoid the “If Only” syndrome • Ever heard any of these “If Only’s” • If only my boss supported me • If only I had a seat at the table • If only I had the money • If only the culture was different
Build strategies around what you have Don’t focus on the things that you don’t have
“There is no finish line”Earl Whitman • Where are you? • In the middle of the pack • Or in the rarified air at the top of the mountain • LET’S DO IT…START TODAY