Now you know more about what Lean Agile Procurement Training offers. But how does it differ from the traditional procurement and contract management approach your business may already be using? Well, the differences are actually quite significant.
Approach
With traditional procurement, you follow a linear and sequential approach that is often characterised by rigid processes and hierarchies, and an emphasis is usually placed on compliance with established procedures and regulations.
Lean Agile procurement adopts an iterative and collaborative approach, leveraging both Agile and Lean methodologies to promote flexibility, adaptability, and continuous improvement that prioritises responsiveness to change and customer needs.
Principles
Traditional procurement focuses heavily on cost reduction, risk mitigation, and compliance with regulations. This means that there is very little room for innovation or experimentation when it comes to making decisions.
With Lean Agile procurement, the principles of customer-centricity, value creation, and cross-functional team collaboration are applied, which encourages innovation and experimentation that allows rapid adaptation to market dynamics.
Processes
Unlike traditional procurement, which typically involves lengthy cycles, extensive documentation, and rigid sequential steps from requisition to delivery, Agile Lean procurement prioritises shorter cycles, collaboration, and feedback loops.
This allows for iterative development within a business as well as incremental improvements based on customer feedback and evolving requirements.
Supplier Relationships
Lean Agile procurement promotes strategic procurement partnerships and collaborative relationships with suppliers. It also places an emphasis on value creation, shared goals, and developing a mutual trust that drives innovation and continuous improvement.
Like most traditional procurement principles, working in the "old-fashioned" way means that relationships with suppliers tend to be purely transactional and are focused almost solely on price negotiation and contract enforcement.
Outcomes
Taking all of the above into account, each approach results in very different outcomes. Traditional procurement tends to deliver predictable but rigid outcomes, with limited room for innovation or adaptation to changing market conditions.
Lean Agile Procurement, on the other hand, aims to deliver value quickly and responsively, with a focus on customer satisfaction, cost-effectiveness, and agility in responding to both market conditions and customer needs.