WHAT MAKES PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST?

Angela Wed Jul 06, 2011 7:31 pm

The level of complexity of functions that leads to accumulation of experience and research and/or training which builds up ones’ level of expertise in a certain area also vary among sectors. Even in the health sector there are assistants, doctors and consultants/specialists. So it is a matter of sector and a status that one has and is placed in the hierarchy of that sector.
Whereas a doctor can be good in specifying medical supplies requirements, the pharmacist can be good in checking the quality of supplies but none of them can be good in sourcing the same unless is trained, has done research and is aware of the good sourcing, strategies, procedures and guidelines and managing the buyer seller relationship during execution. All these have effect even at policy levels and are regulated.
My recommendation still holds that in discussing this subject we must recognize that there is a different between sector experts and procurement experts. So a procurement expert in an expert in procurement

Angela Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:17 pm

Dear forum members, I would advise that in our discussions in this subject, we recognize that sector experts are different from procurement experts even though procurement by itself is a cross cutting sector and the sector expert roles (in PPA perspective named as user department) are defined and different from procurement expert/PMU roles.

**RJM** Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:55 pm

Kinyanjui,

This is interesting now as it brings the issue of “specialty” into equation. As it can be deduced from the Wikipedia above, an expert must have a prolonged or intense experience through practice and education in a particular field. The big question is; how many sectors that procurement can be linked with? Many e.g. gas, oil, water, pharmaceuticals, construction etc to measure the few. That said, I think it is a matter of choice which sector do one want to be an expert – procurement of goods, gas, oils, pharmaceuticals. Can one be a Master of all Trades? I doubt!

Forum Members, one challenge question is; can procurement knowledge suffice be a Procurement Expert in one of the sectors without knowledge of the sector? To me I presume that in order one to be a good Procurement Specialist in Pharmaceuticals should possess both Pharmaceutical + Procurement Knowledge. Do you think it is necessary to have multi-skill to make a good Specialist take into account activities involved in Procurement Cycle?

nkinyanjui Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:45 pm

Does the complexity of procurement projects in this experience matter? I could be a proc officer with 10 years experience, a bachelors degree, having dealt with procurement projects like purchasing cars, office stationery etc while on the flip side i could be a proc officer with 4 years experience, an MBA and professional diploma but thrown into more complex procurement projects such as those in the oil and gas industry procuring rigs for example. Are they both specialists?

**RJM** Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:19 pm

Kinyanjui,

Let us consider this in a broader perspective. No need of inverting the wheel – according Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia a Specialist frequently refers to an expert in a profession.

From the same source; an expert also called cognoscente is someone widely recognized as a reliable source of technique or skill whose faculty for judging or deciding rightly, justly, or wisely is accorded authority and status by their peers or the public in a specific well-distinguished domain. An expert, more generally, is a person with extensive knowledge or ability based on research, experience, or occupation and in a particular area of study. Experts are called in for advice on their respective subject, but they do not always agree on the particulars of a field of study. An expert can be, by virtue of credential, training, education, profession, publication or experience, believed to have special knowledge of a subject beyond that of the average person, sufficient that others may officially (and legally) rely upon the individual's opinion. Historically, an expert was referred to as a sage (Sophos). The individual was usually a profound thinker distinguished for wisdom and sound judgment.

Experts have a prolonged or intense experience through practice and education in a particular field. In specific fields, the definition of expert is well established by consensus and therefore it is not necessary for an individual to have a professional or academic qualification for them to be accepted as an expert. In this respect, a shepherd with 50 years of experience tending flocks would be widely recognized as having complete expertise in the use and training of sheep dogs and the care of sheep. Another example from computer science is that an expert system may be taught by a human and thereafter considered an expert, often outperforming human beings at particular tasks. In law, an expert witness must be recognized by argument and authority.

What makes a Procurement Specialist = above attributes within the profession.

nkinyanjui Thu Jun 23, 2011 5:24 pm

At a workshop I attended recently, a good question was asked though there wasn't enough time for participants to deliberate. The question was: At what point can a procurement professional say that they are a specialist? Really, in any field what makes you say that you are a specialist?
PROCUREMENT MENTALITY101 visit http://naomikinyanjui.wordpress.com/

Sponsored content

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

WHAT MAKES A PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST?