Procurement Stories

18 December 2025

The Real Role of AI in Procurement

Efficiency is nice, but if AI only helps us process tasks faster, we are just building a faster horse. The real opportunity for AI in procurement isn't speed—it's solving the alignment gap between us and the business.

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27 November 2025

My Brain, in a box

So I went and stuck my brain in a box. Read on to find out why I did that, and why you should use it.

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22 October 2025

Is SRM the Ultimate Solution?

While SRM is definitely an answer, it's rarely the only answer. You need the basics in place before you can truly leverage the value creation of SRM.

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14 October 2025

Persuasive Anecdotes Triumph Over Hard Data

It's not about fighting stories with spreadsheets. It’s about making the data tell a story that's too compelling, clear, and strategic to ignore.

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1 October 2025

The NZ Government Procurement Refresh

The rules can be either a lever for value or a justification for inaction. Ultimately our role isn't just to enforce a process, it's to deliver outcomes.

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22 August 2025

Is Procurement the "Department of No"?

Not every workaround is malicious. Often it's a symptom of deeper issues. Ultimately, procurement should never be just about policing; it's about enabling.

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5 August 2025

The Common Denominator

When everything seems to be the problem, it's probably time to look in the mirror. Procurement magic happens when we genuinely understand others.

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22 July 2025

Best Practice vs. Right Practice

Blindly adopting 'best practice' might be missing the point entirely. It's about right-sizing our approach – picking the methods that genuinely fit our specific context.

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16 July 2025

A Real-World Test of "Make vs. Buy"

A recent directive by the NZ Government to outsource surgeries is a powerful test of procurement strategy. In critical public services, when does a tactical 'buy' solution become a dangerous dependency?

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1 July 2025

Beyond the Rules - How to Drive Real Value

Moving from a culture of rules to one guided by Guidelines, Principles, and Outcomes is more than a procedural change; it's a leadership philosophy.

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28 June 2025

Procurement Risk - Moving Beyond Paralysis

If the goal of procurement was to eliminate all conceivable risk, we'd be in a state of commercial paralysis. Our role is to become enablers of calculated, strategic risk-taking.

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12 March 2025

The Least Helpful Four Words in Business

An "I told you so" moment isn't a victory; it's a data point for self-improvement. If I foresaw an issue and couldn't influence the outcome, my communication wasn't effective enough.

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10 November 2024

Changing How People See Procurement

When procurement transformations stall, the culprit is rarely the technology. More often, it's the invisible barrier of how the wider business perceives procurement.

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28 September 2024

Get Out of the Procurement Echo Chamber

While there's value in our professional community, we might be limiting our impact by staying in our comfort zone. It's time to learn to speak multiple "business languages."

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12 August 2024

Why Some Procurement Transformations Fail

Genuine transformation requires more than new systems or restructuring – it demands a fundamental shift in how the procurement capability is positioned within the organisation.

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15 June 2024

Three Crucial Procurement Conversations

These conversations require vulnerability, but they have genuinely transformed my approach to procurement relationships and delivered breakthrough value.

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20 May 2024

The Truth About "Procurement Excellence"

We love our buzzwords, but real impact isn't about chasing a perfect model. It's about building trust and actually helping the organization succeed.

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