Procure IQ

Reading Scott Anthony’s Innovation Notes from India over on the HBR blogs, I can’t help but noticing that India is about to face the growing pains that North America went through during the information technology revolution of the last few decades. Consider Scott’s points one-by-one: India is a land of contrasts Every revolution, from the telephone through television to the PC made North America a land of contrasts between the haves and the have nots. The culture of entire communities, cities, and counties, literally changed overnight. Take silicon valley for example. It was a …

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FieldGlass, which provides a unified platform for contingent workforce management, service provider management, and direct hires, is determined to tear forward through the tens, which also happen to correspond to its second decade of corporate existence. Founded in Chicago in 1999, it celebrated its tenth birthday with a bang by adding 33 new customers in 2009 before tearing into 2010 and adding over 30 new customers year-to-date to double its customer base in less than two years. With localized support for sixty-three (63) countries and counting, over one third (33%) of the new customers it has added in …

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In addition to offering insights into planning horizons, supply chain strategy drivers, and keys to supply chain success, the recent report on Supply Chain Strategy in the Board Room by the Cranfield School of Management and Solving Efeso also discussed what it all meant for supply chain leaders of tomorrow. It’s conclusion was that the CPO of tomorrow needs to fit the following profile: Strong Communicator: gravitas within Leadership team in many companies, the sourcing / procurement / supply chain leader still doesn’t have …

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Put Employees First! I was absolutely thrilled to see this recent article over at Knowledge @ Wharton India that said that Winning More Business in a Recession Means Putting Employees First. In the interview with Vineet Nayar, CEO of HCL Technologies — a company which grew 21% year over year in operating profit and revenues, he noted that their customer satisfaction rate rose 43% and that they were rated #1 in employee satisfaction. Simply put, a happy employee goes the extra mile to make customers happy. And a happy customer …

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A recent article over on the HBR blogs covered the 12 things that good bosses believe which, while important, don’t necessarily help a new boss understand what she has to do to be a good boss. So, in this post, I’m going to tell you the eight things that good bosses do. In time, you’ll understand why and adopt the same beliefs, but when you’re new, sometimes actions have to come first. So, without further ado, here they are: Human Shield They …

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A recent article in the Harvard Business Review on the leaders we need now noted that Generation X will produce executives who bring a distinctive sense of realism to the modern corporation as they possess skills and attitudes that are especially suited to today’s challenges which are both new and unpredictable. Traditional leadership skills — setting direction, having the answers, controlling performance, and running a tight ship — are less relevant in an environment of constant change. These days, leadership is about creating a context for innovation and inclusion in the face of ambiguity and the unexpected. …

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It might be a “jobless recovery”, but the talent war is here as firms have to do more with less. Are you ready for it? Or are you making these six common talent management mistakes, as highlighted in a recent Harvard Business Review article on How to Keep Your Top Talent, that will cost your organization your top talent? Assuming that High Potentials are Highly Engaged 12 in 60 (20%) believe that personal aspirations …

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Take this short 3-question quiz to find out! 1. Is Management Ready for Change? Management must be ready and willing to demonstrate their commitment to change and keep their resolve through good times and bad. If the rank and file don’t see commitment, they will believe it’s just the fad of the month and ignore the effort as they expect it will be forgotten in a few months anyway when the next fad is announced. 2. Is Talent Ready to Step Up? Management has to be ready, but the rank and file have …

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Our last post overviewed a recent article in the McKinsey Quarterly that discussed the five forces reshaping the global economy that every executive has to grapple with, which left the reader with as many questions as answers. This post will attempt to shed some light in the directions the answers may lie. The following are the forces that were identified: Growth and Risk Management in Emerging Markets Multinationals will have to get in on the ground, attract local management talent, and let the local management …

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A recent article in the McKinsey Quarterly, that summarized some of their global survey results, tackled the five forces reshaping the global economy as executives are still grappling with how to seize the opportunities of an interlinked world economy. It provides some good information and insight, but leaves one with as many questions as it provides answers. This post will summarize the five reshaping forces and the next post will attempt to shed some light in the directions the answers may lie. The following are the forces that were identified: …

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