Revisiting Green, the procurement guru.

I'm sure many readers recall the coalition's pursuit of improvement in public procurement and the desire to listen to 'the great and the good' of business on 'how it should be done'. That led to Sir Philip Green explaining how to fix public procurement - I wasn't particularly impress by his recommendations.

Isn't it interesting that Green has now sold BHS for a nominal £1. Isn't it also interesting that the Consortium which have bought BHS allegedly feel it was unloved and deprived of investment for years.

I wonder whether those who championed Green as a procurement guru still sing his praises? I wonder how many of his recommendations were actually proved to be effective for public procurement in implementation? I wonder how many of those in public procurement feel they are also the victim of the 'Green strategy of unloved and deprived of investment'?

The sale of BHS for £1 says a lot about Green and value for money, but it should also ring out caution when politicians clamor to listen to private sector gurus.

Have CIPS lost the plot on Chartered Status?

Way back in January CIPS trumpeted that individual Chartered Status was available - sounded good. Of course it's only today we discover that caveat emptor should have perhaps applied when we ticked the box in support of Chartered Status.

I have now decided it's not something for me and I will not be pursuing it further, nor of course will I see it as a designation worth considering when recruiting procurement staff - I no longer feel it will be a positive differentiator.

Why? Well, I have an MSc with Distinction in Purchasing & Supply Management - it was awarded by a University and was accredited at the time by CIPS - it was an MSc which was tailored specifically to P&S, not a couple of bolt-on modules. That now seems to count for nothing - it is spent. I find I would need to take another CIPS Accredited MBA or pursue the Experiential Route - cost £795.

I also have MCIPS and a PhD in strategic procurement. Yes, and over 20 peer reviewed academic publications. And yes, I have been full-time in procurement since 1975. I think I can recognise bad value and not fit for purpose when I see it.

I only wish CIPS had been honest with the membership prior to asking for the vote on Chartered Status - I for one would have changed my vote.

I'd really love to know how much the Congress were aware of this approach and want to be accountable for it.