University Purchasers Learning Together to Build Capacity

How do you revolutionize procurement at a 300-year old university? You begin by increasing your capabilities and that means back to basics.

While undergraduates and graduates were heading back to class this fall, Procurement staff and leadership together with distributed purchasers from across the campus headed back to school to participate in an intensive new Purchasing Skills training program. “Across the University, finding savings opportunities are of great importance,” says John Mayes, Executive Director of Procurement. “Developing our sourcing skills, campus-wide, and sharing a common vocabulary is essential to achieving savings success,” continues Mayes.

An intensive 4-day training program presents relevant content for both department administrators and those with "part-time" buying responsibilities.  To make this program more manageable for those who are not buying as the major portion of their job, a condensed one-day training session is available.  Beyond these sessions, Procurement Basics training is planned for 3Q FY05 and will incorporate the sourcing concepts from this program. Finally, these same concepts will be included in orientation materials for chairs and deans.

Program evaluations from attendees reported the training as extremely relevant to their daily jobs. Here are a few comments:

• “The ability to have this course presented in various formats is a plus for our institution.”
• “Great theoretical framework. Absolutely needed as groundwork for migrating from homemade solutions to analytical, professional procurement process at Yale.”
• “It was very helpful and provided structure to the work we do every day.”
• “Gave examples of real solutions to problems presented.”
• “It underscores that planning is so important to our success.”
• “Improved my knowledge of contracts.”

One of the biggest benefits of coming together from around the University to participate in this training is that attendees have an opportunity to share experience and learn from one another. Working in partnership, cross-campus buyers learn how to take full advantage of Yale’s purchasing power. Establishing an organized approach to sourcing ensures that data is gathered, analyzed, and then a coordinated strategy is created all before negotiations ever begin. A well-orchestrated sourcing event can reap big rewards. To follow the savings progress of those who attended and are putting their sourcing skills to good use, visit Procurement’s Strategic Sourcing Activities Calendar at http://www.yale.edu/procurement/purchase/procurementCalendar/biddingActivities.html

If you are interested in Purchasing Skills training, please contact Brenda Naegel at brenda.naegel@yale.edu for training details.