We are not alone

“The need for skills and information to maintain a competitive advantage has never been higher. Professionals today are under an enormous amount of pressure to keep up with the latest developments in their industry as well as document, report, audit, and share information in ways they’ve never had to before.

In an environment with an aging workforce combined with attrition resulting from downsizing, a ‘knowledge vacuum’ is being created as people with irreplaceable knowledge literally walk out companies’ doors. Leading companies recognize that developing successful products requires creative people with in-depth knowledge, and that they must actively acquire and share best practices throughout the organization.

Part of the challenge is to transform the ‘Not Invented Here’ Syndrome. No longer can companies afford to have information silos which result in costly duplicate, redundant, or unnecessary efforts.”

This summary could well have been written by one of our members from the world of contract management or sourcing. In fact, it refers to the field of engineering. But it could also have come from many other functions, all of which seem to be struggling with similar questions, challenges and disruptive forces.

So the good news is that we are not alone. On the other hand, it also means that other groups within the business are trying to work out their new positions within the heirarchy, trying to ‘stake their claim’ to the higher ground. So the debate for those in the commercial and contracts world – as well as procurement and to some extent legal – has a degree of urgency. And not just the debate, but of course also the action.

It is a time for courage and leadership. Within this blog, and through the work at IACCM, we have sought to lay out the opportunities and the change agenda. It is up to the professional community itself – and individuals within it – to decide on whether to take action.