Best Practice Procurement: Public and Private Sector Perspectives

Citation

(2001), "Best Practice Procurement: Public and Private Sector Perspectives", Work Study, Vol. 50 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ws.2001.07950bae.002

Best Practice Procurement: Public and Private Sector Perspectives

Best Practice Procurement: Public and Private Sector Perspectives

Edited by Andrew Erridge, Ruth Fee and John McIlroyGower (in association with the International Purchasing and Supply Education and Research Association)ISBN 0 566 08366 3£75

Keywords: Purchasing, Performance, Public sector, Private sector

Good practice in procurement has long been recognised as a key factor in controlling costs and improving effectiveness. However, requirements and practices differ between sectors. This book provides a range of perspectives on matters that are central to improving purchasing performance across public and private, manufacturing and service sectors. It consists of five parts:

1. 1.

   supply chain management;

2. 2.

   outsourcing and partnership;

3. 3.

   organisational and professional development;

4. 4.

   information technology and electronic commerce;

5. 5.

   performance evaluation.

The book actually consists of a range of refereed contributions from the 1999 IPSERA meeting, from both academic and professional contributors. This bringing together of the academic and business worlds does raise some problems of consistency but provides an opportunity to present evidence grounded in valid theory as the basis of better practice and transferable strategies. The material needs some thought – this is not a quick fix book, but it should appeal to those prepared to put in some effort and some reflective thinking before applying its content.