Finding, Keeping and Developing Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain Professionals: Top Execs to Convene & Discuss The Best Practices In Managing Specialized Talent

The Best Practices Xchange (www.bestpracticesxchange.com) is scheduled to meet on Friday October 6, 2006. The one day summit entitled, “The Best Practices Xchange (BPX)”, includes a “Who’s Who” of the Midwest’s top Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain Executives. The upcoming meeting will focus on the challenges posed by effective Talent Management.

Oak Brook, IL (PRWEB) October 5, 2006 -- The Best Practices Xchange (www.bestpracticesxchange.com) is scheduled to meet on Friday October 6, 2006. The one day summit entitled, “The Best Practices Xchange (BPX)”, includes a “Who’s Who” of the Midwest’s top Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain Executives. The upcoming meeting will focus on the challenges posed by effective Talent Management.

The issue of talent management for Strategic Sourcing/Supply Chain organizations has been long identified as one of the most critical success factors. There is a constant struggle to find the right people, provide them with the right type of skill and knowledge acquisition programs, offer them career development opportunities and implement creative compensation programs to retain and motivate them. Because the areas of Strategic Sourcing / Supply Chain have only recently been accorded the kind of importance they deserve, the body of knowledge and experience around talent management is not as deep as the areas of sales or operations. Because this was identified as a critical issue by the membership, BPX will devote the entire day to Xchange best practices.

Attending members will be privy to:

- A discussion comparing and contrasting the differences and similarities between CNA Insurance’s sourcing organizations for "direct" and "indirect" spending. Included in the discussion will be an overview of the profile for employees sought, recruiting tactics and the issues and challenges associated with training, development, and career planning for the respective groups.

- Presentation of the results of the exclusive members only BPX Talent Management Diagnostic, followed by a discussion on how members can use the information to improve business processes.

- Evolution of the Spend Management Talent Game. In this discussion, we will focus on the evolution of the Spend Management talent game – where it was ten years ago, where it is today, and where it is going in the future. While we will dig into such quantitative areas as salary trends and roles / expectations, we will go further into the changing skill sets required and what separates top performing organizations from the rest of the pack from a talent perspective. The conversation will be relevant for both manufacturing and services-based organizations – and every type of company in between. We will balance the discussion by talking about the skill sets required by procurement professionals today – at all levels – in companies that buy and manage a combination of direct, indirect, and services spend categories.

BPX is a members-only, peer-to-peer group with a charter to provide thought leadership, advanced solutions and networking opportunities to group members. The group meets four times a year and the meetings are facilitated by the Oak Brook, IL based Sourcing, Procurement and Supply Chain consultancy - The Mpower Group.

BPX addresses major Global Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain Management challenges such as:
o   Building world-class Sourcing and Supply Chain Management Organizations
o   Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) and Governance
o   Outcome Based Process Improvement
o   Integration of 6 Sigma and Strategic Sourcing
o   Managing IT Outsourcing Arrangements
BPX recently received national recognition as an organization that provides a collaborative environment for senior executives to meet and discuss the challenges they face in Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain Management. The September issue of Purchasing Magazine further illustrates this with their article about founding BPX member McDonald’s Corporation’s presentation on Supplier Relationship Management at the June 2006 meeting of the Best Practice Xchange.

Customary with every BPX meeting, one half of membership dues are allocated to support a designated charity.
The next meeting for the Best Practices Xchange Council (BPX) will be scheduled for the first quarter of 2007. If you would like more information on The Best Practices Xchange (BPX) or to apply for membership, please contact Glenn Kwiatkowski at The Mpower Group, 630-268-8963.

About The Mpower Group:
The Mpower Group (“TMG”), a certified minority supplier, services Fortune 500 organizations globally, solving complex issues related to their supply chain and strategic sourcing operations including outsourcing and off shoring. TMG emphasizes world-class business practices related to strategy, process and technology that truly drive superior financial results for their clients. Dalip Raheja, the firm’s President and CEO, is nationally recognized for his thought-leadership and advanced strategic concepts in the areas of Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain Management.

Contact Information:
Glenn Kwiatkowski
Director of Marketing
The Mpower Group
(630)268-8963 (Office)
www.thempowergroup.com

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