Governance In the Value Chain: Do Your Suppliers Really Have a Voice?

An old, familiar saying is that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it!

On Thursday, August 25th at 10:00 AM ET, I will be moderating a panel discussion featuring procurement industry thought leader Peter Smith and Corinne Pohlman, Senior Vice-President of National Affairs at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. During the session, we will discuss the evolution of buyer-supplier relationships over the past five decades and where they are heading for all stakeholders in the post-pandemic world.

The timing of this webinar precedes the release of the results from the seminal “Voice of the Supplier” survey by HICX in early September. After reaching out to a large international pool of suppliers dealing with enterprise customers in the CPG, FMCG, Aerospace Defense and Energy sectors about their experience serving some of the biggest organizations in the world (i.e., those of $1 billion and above), the HICX survey will provide an unprecedented look into buyer-supplier relationships.

Of course, the evolution of these critical relations has been a story I have been tracking for some time. Going back to my August 2007 post regarding the Humphrey and Schmitz three value chain governance models, followed by the famous Walmart Effect Vlasic Pickle story to the innovative upside-down Heinze bottle collaboration, the evolution of buyer-supplier relations has seen some significant changes.

The real question we need to ask is how we sufficiently transform and transition one of our most critical partner relationships from a transactional, zero-sum approach to the strategic and mutually beneficial relational model.

The panel will answer this question and much more. Be sure to join me; you will not be disappointed.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT BELOW

30