With 2 months left in 2015 Purchasing leaders can lay the foundation for success in 2016 by stepping away from the immediate and considering their staff, new talent, technology, suppliers and goals.

1. What Purchasing
Leaders Need to Focus
on For the Rest of 2015
STEP AWAY FROM THE IMMEDIATE AND LAY FOUNDATION FOR
SUCCESS IN 2016 AND BEYOND
CPO ROUNDTABLE RITZ CARLTON HALFMOON BAY NOV 2015 BILL KOHNEN

2. Step Back and Look at
Talent Acquisition/Bench Strength
Technology
Suppliers and Staff
Goals
CPO ROUNDTABLE RITZ CARLTON HALFMOON BAY NOV 2015 BILL KOHNEN

3. Talent and Bench Strength
Take advantage of normally slow hiring time to evaluate and hire.
Hiring in 2016 will be more difficult and expensive
Talk with existing team and determine strengths and challenges
Consider succession plan with your team
Consider capability of current team to transform particularly in
regards to more “digital” work environment.
CPO ROUNDTABLE RITZ CARLTON HALFMOON BAY NOV 2015 BILL KOHNEN

4. Technology
Slow down the process of selecting and implementing new
technology. Especially if considering a suite of products.
Solutions providers are backed up in install.
Next generation solutions even for current providers will be released in 2016.
If you have an urgent need for a specific solution such as spend, sourcing,
contract management only move forward on that with minimum commitment
possible and do not integrate in with the rest of your systems right away.
Focus again on your requirements and optimization of your process
CPO ROUNDTABLE RITZ CARLTON HALFMOON BAY NOV 2015 BILL KOHNEN

5. Suppliers and Staff
2016 will be a busy year and to meet goals you will need support of key
suppliers and your team.
Holiday lunch/less formal discussions with key suppliers and staff
Attend a cross section of supplier business reviews to get a sense of
progress
Encourage team to identify and book training opportunities for 2016
CPO ROUNDTABLE RITZ CARLTON HALFMOON BAY NOV 2015 BILL KOHNEN

6. Goals
Generally most organizations are on track to meet 2015 cost and
operational
Take time to review results now and provide support and make
adjustments in any areas where goals are not on track.
Prepare and Share overall results with your organization and team
before year end.
Share goals and plans for 2016
CPO ROUNDTABLE RITZ CARLTON HALFMOON BAY NOV 2015 BILL KOHNEN