16.7 Conclusion

Thank you for letting us join you on your journey to becoming a successful supply chain professional. As we conclude, let us remind you of an important principle: Good practice is good practice, wherever it is found. We have, for example, discussed the following key business practices, which apply not just to the supply management but also—with a little tweaking—to life planning.

• Your decisions deliver the best results when you take a holistic perspective.

• You should use technology as an enabler of value creation. Technology is not a solution.

• You should invest in a good organizational culture and reputation so that you are a trusted and valued employer, buyer, and supplier.

• You need to link strategy and execution. Measurement helps you do this.

• You need to consider your environment. Ask, "What might the future look like?" "How can you mitigate risk?" and "How can you operate in a more sustainable way?"

Now, let's return to that recurring nightmare. You remember the one. Someone or something is chasing you and no matter how long or how fast you run, you can't get away. What does it really mean? Answer: We are all in a race against obsolescence. General Electric's former CEO, Jack Welch, warned, "If the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, the end is near." So, how do you stay ahead of the obsolescence curve? Answer: You start by becoming an influencer (think strategic profit model and psychological intelligence) and developing sound technical skills (think category analysis, outsourcing/offshoring decisions, supplier evaluation, and strategic costing). Then you build great people and relationship skills (think communication, trust, and team building). However, personally acquiring these skills isn't enough. You need to help your entire team catch the vision of why these skills are so important to success. After all, you can't afford to come alone to tomorrow's value-creation gang fight.

Let's conclude with a final thought: Purchasing and supply management is a dynamic and growing profession with a high demand for qualified decision makers who embrace change, like to learn, and enjoy building and working with winning teams. If this sounds like fun to you, you are about to step into a grand adventure and a great career—one that will enable you to make the world a better place.