Selecting and Managing External Suppliers
Course Summary
When looking for a supplier to meet your business and IT needs, you face a complex selection and management process. Typically you will not find an exact match between your organisation's unique requirements and what your suppliers and customer propose or require. Therefore your decision will be centred on finding the best fit.
This three day practical course covers those steps and shows how to select, procure, implement and manage the suppliers of those applications, products and services.
It makes heavy use of examples and case studies, these will take you through all stages from establishing requirements to the on-going management of the service.
Course Outline
Managing Third Party suppliers
With the increased emphasis on business continuity, enterprise service provision, e-commerce, applications management and service quality, more organisations are looking for a total supplier and contract management 'lifecycle' approach.
The approach should cover key events in managing the lifecycle from initiation to termination. A key aspect is the management of sub-contractors and other third party suppliers.
When looking for a supplier to meet your business and IT needs, you face a complex selection and management process. Typically you will not find an exact match between your organisation's unique requirements and what your suppliers and customer propose or require. Therefore your decision will be centred on finding the best fit.
There are a number of steps to take, each of which will simplify the supplier and contract management cycle.
This three day practical course covers those steps and shows how to select, procure, implement and manage the suppliers of those applications, products and services.
It makes heavy use of examples and case studies, these will take you through all stages from establishing requirements to the on-going management of the service.
Who will the course benefit?
- Staff who are involved in supplier, service or applications management especially those who need to manage the whole product lifecycle.
- Staff who are tasked with, influence, or have responsibility for: -procurement, requirements definitions and specification, supplier selection and evaluation, ITT, relationship, contract, service and ‘benefit harvesting’ management.
Course Objectives
To give delegates the skills, methods and techniques required to specify, select, procure, evaluate, implement and monitor the suppliers of defined products, packages and services and ensure the expected benefits are harvested.
Skills Gained
This course will enable delegates to:
- Develop the skills and techniques required to manage a product and the associated suppliers from the initiation stage, through service provision stages, to the final termination.
- Understand the purchasing and contract management processes required from the stage of ‘supplier identification’, through acquisition, to managing the deliverables and monitoring on-going performance and contractual compliance.
- Identify the factors that influence an effective and professional supplier and customer relationship.
- Appreciate the programme, product, service and project management issues associated with third party suppliers.
Course Content
Supplier/customer relationships
Ten key factors for a successful supplier client relationship. The process and skills needed.
The procurement cycle as part of a project
How to initiate the project and define the stages, tasks and deliverables required. Methods and procedures to control quality progress and change. How best practice approaches such as PRINCE2™, ITIL® (IT Infrastructure Library®) and ISPL (Information Systems Procurement Library) help you get what you want and continue to get it.
The ‘requirements stage’
How to create or review a statement of requirements; the techniques to assist - CSF, Business Activity Models and other approaches.
The ‘selection stage’
How to find suppliers, screen bids and create a shortlist using decision analysis and risk management techniques.
The ‘negotiation stage’
How to negotiate with a supplier. Tricks to avoid.
The ‘Invitation to Tender stage’
How to develop an ITT from the requirement and the proposals.
The ‘statement of work’ stage
The purpose of the SOW, how to create it, tips and traps. Benchmarks and specifications.
The ‘contract stage’
How to review a contract. Typical traps to avoid.
The ‘installation stage’
Checkpoints, education, acceptance and rollout.
The ‘support and on-going management stage’
How the service management processes of configuration, problem, change, service level, availability and continuity management contribute to ensuring supplier effectiveness and compliance.
The ‘partnership development’ stage
How to improve the relationship using ‘Strength Deployment Inventory’ and other profiling techniques.
The benefits harvesting stage
How to review supplier performance against the contract, SLA, Business and Operational requirements and statement of work. How to get more from the supplier.
The ‘termination stage’
Supplier reviews, termination and reports, selling on.
Upcoming Courses
There are no scheduled dates for this course.
This course is also available at your premises by appointment.
Related Courses
None.
Related Certificates
None.