IT Supplier Relationship Management

In the IT Supplier Relationship Management Class, participants will explore key principles and practices essential to managing supplier relationships that align with organizational goals. This 2.5-day interactive course is designed to create an engaging and collaborative environment where questions and challenges are welcome, fostering open discussions on best practices. Through hands-on exercises and facilitated discussions, participants will gain actionable insights to build and manage effective supplier relationships, driving successful supplier interactions that contribute to overall business success.

Learners gain a practical understanding of:

• Key concepts and best practices for effectively managing supplier relationships
• How to align the sourcing strategy and supplier management with organizational goals
• The value streams and processes that underpin successful supplier management, including integration with related practices
• Techniques for managing supplier journeys, governance, and compliance
• Strategies for building and maintaining strong service relationships with suppliers and partners
• How to handle common challenges, such as setting and managing expectations and building effective and healthy relationships
• The roles, responsibilities, and competencies necessary for successful supplier management within various organizational structures

Agenda

Course introduction

Introduction to supplier management

• Purpose
• Key terms and concepts
• Scope
• Related activities

Practice success factors and key metrics

• Assess how well the current sourcing strategy aligns with organizational goals
• Exercise: Ensuring supplier strategy alignment
• The service relationship journey
• Service relationship types
  • Exercise: Categorizing suppliers
    • Categorize existing suppliers by type
  • Approach to building relationships by type

Organizations and people

• Key roles, competencies and responsibilities
• Organizational structures and teams

Value streams and processes

• Role of supplier management in value streams
• Integration with related practices

Supplier management processes

• Managing a common approach to supplier management
  • Evaluate existing guidelines and procedures and identify gaps
  • Exercise: Identifying needed procedures

Managing supplier journeys

• Exercise: Engaging with suppliers
  • Explore techniques for negotiating and reviewing contracts, monitoring and managing performance, and conducting supplier reviews

Information and technology

• Automation and tooling

Partners and suppliers

• Common outsourcing opportunities

Summary and reflection

• Propose and prioritize improvements and assign responsibilities
  • Exercise: Improvement planning

Taking Action!