What Is On Your Procurement Roadmap?

What should you put on your procurement roadmap and how should they be prioritized?

Setting up your roadmap can seem like a daunting challenge.

Your experience will influence the time and effort you put into it.

I have never been a big planner.

Some of my most popular reasons are:

  • Targets keep moving
  • My plate is already full of “crucial projects”
  • We are acquiring a company or selling a business unit
  • The system we have works even if it isn’t ideal
  • Systems seem easy to buy and much harder to maintain

As you see, I had many reasons not to set a roadmap.

Unfortunately, I had to find a way if I wanted to keep my job and move my career along.

I will share the approach that has helped accomplish the goals that are important to me and the company.

I believe that if you give this a try, you will start getting the important things done.

For each project or goal, I put it in one of the following time buckets:

  • Group A – One hour
  • Group B – One day = 8 hours
  • Group C – One week = 40 hours

Group A – I establish 20 or more projects or tasks that should take an hour. Once I finish 5 or more, I replace them. If a goal is still on my list after 3 months, I drop it. If a new goal is “put” on my list based on a request or emergency, I make room by finishing one. I don’t let the list grow to more than 20 because then I feel overwhelmed. 

Group B – I establish 5 projects that I should be able to complete in a day if I wasn’t interrupted. Finding a whole day to work on a project can be a challenge so I often break these into 2 or 3 parts. As I complete one, I replace it, but I don’t rush. Savoring the accomplishment is important to me. If one of these projects has not been started in 6 months or I haven’t made time for it, I drop it.

Group C – I like to include 2 goals in this group. For me these are broader in nature. I allow a year to finish them. On occasion, I have kept a goal on for longer than a year but that is rare. What typically happens is that I have broken this bigger goal into smaller pieces that fit into Group A or B.

This flexible approach works for me. Priorities shift naturally. If I don’t start something, I can replace it.

Group A projects keep me focused and it is normally easy to get them done consistently. There is a sense of accomplishment as I cross each one off.

Group B projects should move along, and I need to have them visible. If not, they can suddenly become a crisis.

Group C are a reminder of bigger goals and seeing them allows me to act on the next logical step.

Finishing each project or goal is empowering.

Success builds on success.

My stress level is much lower than it used to be.

Not feeling overwhelmed will do that for you.

When my boss has another project for me or a new goal, I show them what I am working on and suggest what can get moved down. This is a good way to determine if this new project is as important the others already on my list.

I knew I needed to change my approach if I wanted a different result.

The beauty of this approach for me is that it only took an hour to set up.

Perhaps today would be the day you get control of your goals.

Pick one you can finish today and 5 for this week.

I bet you will finish all of them and next weekend you will celebrate your success.

Next week’s goal can then be to set up your roadmap, especially if it will only take an hour.

Ask better questions, make changes and 2019 will be your best year ever.

Action Step: If you are uncertain where to start the process of change, a procurement professional like myself can provide guidance and expertise to help your organization achieve the results you want.

If you want to go explore this topic in greater detail, please contact me. I invite you to request 30-minute discovery conversation. In my experience the next step will be apparent at the end of the call. I never assume that what I have to offer will be right for everyone, so don’t expect a sales pitch. You can reach me at 973-936-9672.

If you would like to know more ways to reduce costs without changing the way you do business, simply give me a call or send me an email with your contact information and the best time to reach you.

You Won’t Drift to Success©

Commit to taking the next step.

Until Next Time, I Wish You Great Success in Your Business and in Your Life

Mike Jeffries