Strategic Purchasing Management: Reflective Learning and Improvement

This essay presents a student's reflection on their learning experience in a Strategic Purchasing Management module. The reflection emphasizes the importance of purchasing as a boundary-spanning function and its role in an organization's strategic success. Key areas of knowledge gained in...Read More

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Final reflection
Knowledge learnt
I have learnt the significance of purchasing which has boundary spanning function with the help
of this module. According to me, the purchasing function can play an essential role in the
strategic success of an organisation. The module has taught me how vital facts about tendering,
bidding and socio-economic implication about the purchasing strategy (Johnson and Flynn,
2015). The module has thrown light on the purchasing strategy option and the contribution that
effective purchasing can have on the factor of corporate strategies. I have gained useful
knowledge regarding how purchasing can contribute to that of competitive advantage. The
module has analysed different kinds of personal experiences regarding purchasing that can be an
essential factor in the competitive position of a business. I have learnt in the modules how e-
procurement can change the relationship between purchasing-supplier (Luzzini, Caniato, and
Spina, 2014). The module has illuminated on the role that e-procurement can play within the
organisation. The module has taught me essential skills and knowledge in relation to e-
procurement. I have learnt in the modules that trust is an essential element pertaining to buyer-
seller relationship and the sales people who are trusted can preserve the customer commitment at
the difficult times. I have learnt in the modules that sustainable procurement policies cannot be
developed in an isolated manner but it should be collaborated with other disciplines in the
company. I have learnt during the course that parties should be able to understand the actions
and obligations of each other that is an important aspect in relation to purchasing behavior. I
have learnt with the help of the module that ethical purchasing can help in the promotion of
good labour and it can help in maintaining environmental standard within the supply chain.
In the event of completion of the course, I will be able to get successful in the department of the
supply chain in an organisation. All the sectors from finance to that of manufacturing has an
element of purchasing, and my knowledge will come to be of use; if I join these professional
fields. The learning about purchasing will help me in my career and increase my opportunities
for education. The learning can help me in the buying of a high-level strategic item that can be a
factor for the competitive advantage of a company. The teaching will help me in nurturing my
interpersonal skills that can prove my vital to my professional development. The knowledge
gained will help me to manage the relationship with the internal customers along with the
external suppliers (Quesada et al., 2010). Networking is an essential element of purchasing, and
my learning will help me to communicate effectively. With the help of my knowledge; I shall be
able to act as a valuable resource for an organisation, and I shall be able to add value for the
organisation. The learning will instil in me the skills about negotiation and the abilities to work
closely with the supplier that can help in improving the service standard (Cox, 2004). The
learning will assist me in gaining financial astuteness that can prove to be crucial for my career
growth.
Areas for improvement
The areas that I would like to develop in the future modules pertain to supply market
intelligence that can help me in making decisions related to source-related decision making. It
can help me in getting access to accurate along with actionable supply intelligence about the

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supply chain that can help a business in getting a strategic advantage (Meehan and Wright,
2012). With the benefit of supply marketplace intelligence, the procurement professional will be
able to make informed decisions with the help of which insights can be tailored to that of the
industry scale. The education can also focus on inventory management that can help in
improving the business performance. Learning about inventory software should be integrated
into the modules that can assist in providing efficiency about a complex system.
References:
Cox, A. (2004) 'Business relationship alignment: on the commensurability of value capture and
mutuality in buyer and supplier exchange'. Supply Chain Management: An International
Journal, 9(5), pp.410-420.
Johnson, P.F., & Flynn, A. E. (2015) Purchasing and supply management. 15th ed. McGraw-Hill
Higher Education.
Luzzini, D., Caniato, F. and Spina, G. (2014) 'Designing vendor evaluation systems: An
empirical analysis'. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, 20 (2), pp.113-129.
Meehan, J. and Wright, G.H. (2012) 'The origins of power in buyer-seller
relationships'. Industrial Marketing Management, 41(4), pp.669-679.
Quesada, G., González, M.E., Mueller, J. and Mueller, R. (2010) 'Impact of e-procurement on
procurement practices and performance'. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 17(4),
pp.516-538.