Fitting Purchasing to the Strategic Firm: Frameworks, Processes, and Values

For the entire firm to experience a consistent level of success in today's rapidly changing environment, purchasing operations and activities must be synchronized with the strategy of the firm and attuned with the variable external forces. No longer can purchasing serve the growing firm with “plain vanilla” service, utilize methods and procedures of a decade ago, and have one set of approaches for all possible tasks. As firms adapt to ever changing situations and move toward more proactive strategic modes of operation, purchasing must also progress through various stages of evolution. This article draws on extensive field interviews to present a road map outlining how purchasing can function as a productive contributor to the mission of the ever changing and increasingly sophisticated firm.