Category Management: A central procurement discipline
Skills and ROI
Category Management has emerged as a central strategic discipline in procurement, treating categories as business units to add value through ongoing analysis, writes Bertrand Maltaverne. A study be The Hackett Group highlights the importance of category management, noting its role in creating business value, reducing costs and mitigating supply chain risk. Despite its benefits, many organizations have low maturity in category management, missing opportunites for value and risk reductions, Maltaverne notes.
Full Story: Spend Matters (10/16)
Top 25 Items to Negotiate in Your Upcoming UPS, FedEx or Regional Parcel Carrier Contract
Parcel Carrier Contract Review
Learn the top 25 negotiable items in UPS, FedEx, and Regional Parcel Carrier contracts. Cut costs, avoid hidden fees, and ship smarter in 2025.
Full story: FreightWise (10/2025)
The 4 Seasons Organizations Go Through - and How to Lead in Each
Managing Uncertainty
Companies, like nature, experience different seasons such as Growth, Transition, Recovery and Reset, each requiring distinct strategies and priorities, writes leadership coach David Lancefield. To navigate these changes, you must identify the current season to align your actions, redefine success and avoid common pitfalls such as operational fragility or decision paralysis. Recognizing and responding to the unique needs of each season helps organizations maintain clarity, resilience and momentum, Lancefield notes.
Full story: Harvard Business Review (10/17)