“Knowledge is a weapon…arm yourself well before you ride forth to battle.” From A Storm of Swords, book four of in the A Song of Fire and Ice series

It’s a safe assumption to state that many of CPO Rising’s readers are fans of HBO’s landmark “Game of Thrones” television series (based on George R.R. Martin’s fantastical A Song of Fire and Ice novels). After all, the show averages nearly five million viewers (or more) per week. While the supply management world may not involve snow zombies, fire-breathing dragons, or a mad race for an iron throne, there are some lessons to be learned from fiction on the screen.

With the latest show in the season behind us (and, no, we still don’t know if Jon Snow is truly dead), now is an ideal time to draw some fun links between “Game of Thrones” and the world of supply management:

• Dragons = powerful technology. In the show, the three young dragons (mothered by Emilia Clarke’s great portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen) are perceived as outlets of change that will vault a long-dormant family line back onto the iron throne. What are its fire-breathing, real-world counterparts? Technologies that will alter the dynamics of the corporate world for years to come. Business networks disrupt long-held staples of buyer-supplier relationships and transform them into true, collaborative unions. Next-generation spend analysis can take simple supplier, spend, and transactional data and help the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) anticipate what’s up ahead for its business. Vendor Management System (VMS) solutions are evolving by the year to transform non-employee workforce management. The other link? Fear. The characters on “Game of Thrones” are either unaware of the existence of dragons…or fear them completely. Sound a lot like many companies’ perceptions of automation and new software, doesn’t it?
• Plays for power are occurring in every corner…but some understand that collaboration is the only way to move forward. The very name of the show indicates that its main characters are vying for one thing: ownership of power and the right to sit on the iron throne to rule the Seven Kingdoms. Various “houses” (families) are engaged in war over the right to rule the land, including the Lannisters (currently in power), Baratheons, Targaryens and others. Although the current dynamics of the Lannisters’ rule involve underhanded tactics, the very reason they came to power was via their relationships with other houses, including the Tyrell and Oberyn families. Today’s businesses may have several stakeholders angling for corporate power, but the notion of collaboration has risen as a beneficial strategy for both functional and overall organizational gain.
• A great risk is slowly making its way into the kingdom…not unlike the troubles ahead for unaware businesses. While the novels barely touch upon the mysterious White Walkers, an evil “undead” race that owes loyalty to no house (or human), the “Game of Thrones” television series has made it a point to traverse above the political wars occurring across the kingdom to show that a much greater risk is coming to life. In the business world, there are a variety of risks all around every enterprise, but these are often ignored due to issues within the organization. While it is, of course, beneficial to focus on process-oriented improvements (after all, companies cannot engage in strategic activity without first mastering the tactical), businesses must always be prepared for what’s up ahead, regardless if they know exactly what that entails. Real-time visibility into spend and suppliers, intelligence regarding ongoing projects and related talent, an understanding of the future financial health of the organization based today’s information…these are aspects that can mitigate any number of risks, whether it be uncertain economic conditions, fluctuation in business activity, or even supply chain disruptions. Those enterprises that remain unaware, like those in “Game of Thrones” unaware of the White Walker invasion, will stand to lose their ground if they don’t prepare today.

While “Game of Thrones” is certainly no guidebook for any of today’s business executives, there are some interesting parallels between fiction and reality.

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Tagged in: Chief Procurement Officer, Christopher Dwyer, Collaboration, Complex Categories, Contingent Workforce, CPO, Innovation, Networks, People, Process, Suppliers, Supply Risk, Technology