PTMBA2023_Core B Strategic Sourcing

Increasing procurement spend/sales ratios, highly volatile raw material prices, and the ever growing need to collaborate with suppliers already in the early phases of new product development underline supply management’s importance for the overall success of a company. Supply management has become a key to achieving competitive advantage: the objective of supply management is to obtain privileged access to resources outside of the firm boundaries.

This course will provide you with in-depth knowledge of supply management essentials and selected concepts from this field, including strategic aspects of supply management and current developments. You will be able to manage the triangle of “cost out, value in, managing risk” from a purchasing perspective. These insights are useful not only if you pursue a career in purchasing, but also in other functions such as marketing/sales because you will be able to better understand the “other side”. Furthermore, entrepreneurs, consultants, investors, and general managers will be able to assess the strong impact of purchasing on company results and manage the function accordingly.

The course is structured into three main sections:

1. Board perspective - strategic positioning and structures of sourcing as a corporate function
2. Strategies for material groups / categories - leveraging competition, changing demand, cooperating & managing Risks
3. Board perspective - performance management, in-sourcing /out-sourcing decisions

• Gain an appreciation of the strategic role of supply management
• Acquire in-depth knowledge concerning major theories, concepts, and frameworks needed for successful supply management
• Practice practical tools that support your supply management decision making
• Learn to apply these sourcing concepts and tools to specific contexts and situations

• 20% Individual contributions (in-class participation, pre-class polls, exercises)
• 30% Team contributions (in-class cases)
• 50% Final exam