University of Twente Student Theses
The role and competences of the ‘Purchaser from tomorrow’ – A case study to compare demands in German SMEs and large enterprises
Benen, Jonas (2017) The role and competences of the ‘Purchaser from tomorrow’ – A case study to compare demands in German SMEs and large enterprises.
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| Abstract: | The analysed CRQ deals with the theme of what education and skills a professional ‘Future purchaser’ should possess with regard to SMEs and large enterprises to meet demands in the context of a strongly evolving PSM field to a key strategic business function. Surprisingly, assumptions of substantial differences in PSM role and competences with regard to an organisation’s size could not be confirmed. Conducted field research has revealed that irrespective of a company's size, today’s purchasers take on a strategic cross-functional management role, require a diverse set of managerial and function specific competences and are accountable for a wide range of source-to-contract and purchase-to-pay processes. Likewise large enterprises, interviewed SMEs have stated PSM importance with strategic relevance, rising priority, professional purchasers in separate departments and contribution to total firm success. Even though large enterprises engage more specialists for certain commodity groups and demand more project, process and interface management, SMEs also report the need for qualified PSM personnel with commercial, technical and IT competences. Analytical tools, strategic PSM knowledge, communication, decision-making and conflict resolution capabilities, negotiation techniques and IT skills in SAP/ EDI software appear to be most relevant. A Bachelor degree is considered as a minimum formal education for purchasers. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 85 business administration, organizational science |
| Programme: | Business Administration MSc (60644) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/71799 |
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