Each day, I am
confronted by several situations calling for, not just mathematical and logical
appeal to surmount. As a supply chain officer in charge of food division, I not
only have to cater for the needs of the existing vendors, which are often
cunning and necessitating more interrogation to see past the well blanketed
presentations, but also imperatively ensure customer taste buds are acquainted
with the latest tastes and flavors.
Product
sourcing is one aspect of purchasing that begs for more than just a
negotiation. Basically, the point of contention is which product is right for
purchase. Common knowledge would aver that the product ought fulfill test of demand,
quality and price point triad. The retail market is dynamic and overladen with
information –factual and true as well as biased and fallacious; vendors, like
prophets or witchdoctors overstate their products’ superiority which back the ‘flying off the shelf’ clichéd sermons;
and of course there are statutory regulations that have to be latently crutched
to at all times.
But I have a
category range to consider, perspective of the management to consult, a vendor
to make happy, a market to observe, some KPIs to fulfill and some spirits to
appease. With the complexity of my factors
to consider, nonplussed by the expectations from vendors, the algorithm to
arrive at an objective decision point would only burst my natural supercomputer
–my head. Its not what I want as I
would face judgment for leaving vacant my segment of multiplying and filling the earth.
Retreat from
the tough considerations and embark on what would make business sense. It is
the business of a business to do business!! Think about it!
Apprised with
such Solomonic view, one ostensibly would just pinch and equally massage the
vendor to not only sell the positives but also lay naked the shortcomings of
the product –from which the true value, significantly business value, would be
graspable. Alienated will be the absurdity of the fact that we tend to evaluate
products from the intent of their manufacturers and sellers instead of users or
potential users –which is more prevalent than our ignorance of the market
dynamics. Market dynamics!!
As I ponder,
this week, on the above scribbling, I feel indebted to entangle my head, and
hands of course, on an excursion to the one thing that holds the world
–communication.
Communication
–someone will nod in appreciation that this isn’t my area, I know. See you next
week!
