The CPO Rising 2K20 Virtual Series – Update
So far we have delivered 5 of the estimated 20 distinct sessions that we now have planned for the series and it has been both exciting and exhausting. While there’s nothing better than hearing a session live, we are making every session available on-demand for a limited time only – so if you missed the live session, you can still click a link below and view it on your terms!!
To date we have covered the strategies that P2P executives can use to ensure business continuity (“Prevent, Manage, Recover“), the pressing need for procurement leaders to rethink their supply chains (“A New World (of) Orders“), how to protect your newly remote workforce against cyber-threats (“Guarding Against Cyber-Risk“), and made a compelling argument that Procurement and AP need each other, now more than ever (“Maximizing Spend Management“).
And, I should note that sessions are being developed and delivered as a service to our loyal community to help you navigate these tough times. We had a team meeting about 3 and a half weeks ago and identified a few ways that we could support individuals and teams in the short term and immediately set out on two of them. The first was to open our network up in support of those teams facing supply shortages of critical items. The second was to focus our ideas, strategies, and insights on the coronavirus pandemic and its implications on procurement and supply management teams around the globe. From the second idea, this series was born. You will note that some sessions are sponsored, but a majority of them are not… so I encourage you to participate in the series, join the conversation, and if you have some ideas to share, take an active role (let us know by completing this form).
The CPO’s New Agenda Mandate
Early April – it is that time of year, when I usually hunker down for an intense two-week period dedicated almost entirely to my annual CPO Rising: State of Procurement research study. When taken as a series, we have a chronicle of the evolution of the procurement profession and the role of the Chief Procurement Officer. Individually, each report is both a snapshot in time and a deep-dive into a vital CPO topic. Each year, it has been a labor of love and I consider the individual reports and the overall collection to be my best work.
Three hundred and twenty of our loyal readers recently completed my 15th annual state of procurement survey (thank you!). But, a funny thing happened on the way… the world changed overnight. From a research standpoint this has numerous (and fascinating) implications. The data collected in January and February differs dramatically from the more recent responses. It is clear that the typical CPO has a new and very different agenda today than they did just a short time ago. I’m excited to say that we’ve decided to move forward with our annual presentation on April 30th (click to register), but have also decided to push the publication of the report out a few months, so that we can write a report that better captures what’s happening right now, adding in new data and interviews.
The Challenges of Each Day…
In an instant, Chief Procurement Officers and procurement leaders around the world are facing an entirely new set of challenges, accelerated by a global pandemic that has disrupted an interconnected business world and its supply chain. Once again, CPOs have been called to the front lines to defend their businesses, lead their teams, and ensure continuity. Attacks and threats are coming from all angles. But, the challenges of each day present opportunities within them. And, as we continue to navigate these disruptive days, it is clear that many of an enterprise’s best opportunities (and most critical priorities) will play to the strengths and expertise of its procurement department. Until then, resiliency is the order of the day. It is the global imperative and it serves as a call to procurement leaders and professionals around the world to respond with agility and poise – a call that many have spent years preparing for… a call that will be answered.
RELATED RESEARCH
CPO Leadership in Times of Crisis
CPO Strategies: Paving the Road to Recovery
CPO Playbook: Leveraging Your Network To Ensure Supply in the Age of Corona
CPO Rising: The State of Procurement in 2020
The CPO Rising 2K20 Virtual Summit – The Resiliency Imperative
