Procurement leadership: is the focus right for the next generation?

Higgs, M. and Lim, S. (2006) Procurement leadership: is the focus right for the next generation? (Henley Working Paper Series, HWP 0602) Reading, UK. University of Reading

Abstract

As markets become increasingly competitive the role and positioning of Procurement within organisations has been seen by many as becoming more significant. It has certainly been a role in which the skill requirements are seen to be moving from dominantly technical to more behavioural and associated with effective leadership (particularly in the more senior procurement roles).

This paper describes an empirical study which was designed to explore the extent to which this asserted shift in skill mix is encountered in practice and differences in the perceptions of critical skills between a sample currently in a Chief Purchasing Officer (CPO) role and a sample aspiring to move into such a role.

Using a questionnaire survey data was gathered from 55 CPOs and 96 “aspiring” CPOs. The data provided covered technical, cognitive, behavioural and leadership skills, together with data on leadership effectiveness. Analysis of the data indicated that existing CPOs do indeed place greater emphasis on the non-technical skill areas than the “aspirant” sample. Furthermore, there are indications that current CPOs perceive a behavioural/leadership skills gap in the “aspirant” population. Evidence was obtained of a positive relationship between the CPOs’ perceptions of priority skill areas and the leadership effectiveness of the “aspirant” sample.

The implications of these findings are discussed, together with the limitations of the study and areas for further research.

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Contributors

Author: M. Higgs

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