It’s Time to Rethink Your Business Relationships Kate Vitasek column/blog published on 5 January 2015. Here’s the link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/katevitasek/2015/01/05/its-time-to-rethink-your-business-relationships-2/
Vested
Heading into a Highly Collaborative 2015
When a new year comes around, you know what happens: historians highlight the past, pundits ponder the future, and various lists about the best and worst of the year abound. As I said last year at this time I wonder whether it is all more entertaining patter than productive reflection or context. As we head into 2015 […]
Outsource Magazine — December 2014
Jean Tirole: The science of taming powerful firms Article published in Outsource Magazine by Kate Vitasek on 22 December 2014. Jean Tirole, the French professor of economics who recently received the Nobel Prize, is one of the most influential modern economists for his extensive theories and rigorous mathematic analysis of strategic behaviour and information economics […]
Procurement Insights — December 2014
Virginia Forum 2014 in Pictures by Jon Hansen Posted 17 December 2014. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Based on these great shots from the Virginia Forum 2014, I think this is true. Here’s the link: http://procureinsights.wordpress.com/2014/12/17/virginia-forum-2014-in-pictures-by-jon-hansen/
John Ruskin and Penny Wise and Pound Foolish
My friend and colleague Andrew Downard sent along a quote from the 19th century English artist, critic, socialist, and philanthropist John Ruskin in The Common Law of Business Balance that resonates incredibly well with Ailment #1 and the danger of being Penny Wise and Pound Foolish and focusing only on price. The quote attributed to […]
Why is Integrity Important Only after You’re Caught?
In a recent blog I questioned some of the supplier practices of Apple. But I don’t mean to single out any one company—it’s the nature of the business that often questionable supply chain practices don’t surface unless there’s a lawsuit or, in the case of Apple, a bankruptcy filing by a supplier. It seems there […]
Happy Thanksgiving!
On this Thanksgiving I’m thinking about the Vested movement and thanking all those who have brought us here in five short years, starting with one slim book based on solid research and a great idea. Movements are not necessarily easy to foster or even recognize. In my talks and classes I describe Vested as a business model, […]
Va. Dept. of General Services: Forum 2014 — November 2014
Leveraging the Power of Procurement Panel discussion from the conference, featuring Kate Vitasek speaking at Virginia’s largest event for state and local procurement professionals and supplier partners, held Nov. 16-19, 2014. Forum 2014 was sponsored by the Virginia Department of General Services. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47RZYvJuPYA#t=23
Virginia’s Forum 2014: Challenging Procurement Norms
I was pleased and honored to participate earlier this week at Forum 2014, Virginia’s Department of General Services’ big event for state and local procurement professionals and supplier partners. Indeed it is a very large event, taking place at the Hampton Roads Convention Center over four days, featuring more than 80 sessions, anchored by more than […]
Do Your Sales Reps Suffer From “Deal Heat”?
The urge to close the deal and move on to the next one—no matter how disadvantageous—is a common situation that I somewhat jokingly refer to as “Deal Heat.” Basically sales reps are so hot to close a deal, perhaps after a long negotiation with a really big new client, that they don’t see the big picture. […]
