Comments on: Take the Coffee Cup and Step Away from the Desk: RFP 101 http://www.ere.net/2004/06/08/take-the-coffee-cup-and-step-away-from-the-desk-rfp-101/ Recruiting News, Recruiting Events, Recruiting Community, Social Recruiting Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:03:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Allan Brauer http://www.ere.net/2004/06/08/take-the-coffee-cup-and-step-away-from-the-desk-rfp-101/comment-page-1/#comment-4183 Allan Brauer Thu, 10 Jun 2004 09:09:00 +0000 http://www.ere.net/2004/06/08/take-the-coffee-cup-and-step-away-from-the-desk-rfp-101/#comment-4183 Really enjoyed your article. I have some experience in this arena, as I am one of those Procurement people that so many love to hate. What makes me somewhat unusual is that I came into Procurement from HR. Our company has found great value in bringing category subject matter experts into Procurement, and I heartily recommend this approach. Because of my double perspective, I understand better than the average procurement person the challenges and business problems that HR personnel face; how vendors can help (or hurt) HR's performance; and when price is not as important as quality or service. I'm an ISM member and also a SHRM member, and I subscribe to sites like ERE to stay closer to my customer's world. If you are working with Procurement people who don't 'get' HR, RFPs and the like can be a real nightmare. Ironically, the skillsets that make someone a great recruiter transfer beautifully into procurement: what is an RFP but a selection process in which you systematically evaluate candidates and weigh their respective strengths and weaknesses against your requirements for the position? And representing my company at trade shows, supplier diversity events, etc., is much like working a job fair, as prospective suppliers sell their capabilities so I can assess whether there might be a need for their services and a potential fit with our requirements. Coming from HR as I do, I tend to write very 'behavior-based' RFPs, asking vendors to provide specific examples, case studies, etc. that demonstrate how they have solved similar business problems for other customers in the past. I'm sure some point I'll return to the HR front lines; meanwhile the education I've gotten in Procurement beats any MBA program.<BR><BR>You can read the original article at: <BR>http://www.erexchange.com/a/d.asp?cid=87490AE5278341679F22525128FED389 <BR><BR>Post your own Article Review<BR>http://www.erexchange.com/p/g.asp?d=M&cid=87490AE5278341679F22525128FED389 <BR> Really enjoyed your article. I have some experience in this arena, as I am one of those Procurement people that so many love to hate. What makes me somewhat unusual is that I came into Procurement from HR. Our company has found great value in bringing category subject matter experts into Procurement, and I heartily recommend this approach.

Because of my double perspective, I understand better than the average procurement person the challenges and business problems that HR personnel face; how vendors can help (or hurt) HR’s performance; and when price is not as important as quality or service. I’m an ISM member and also a SHRM member, and I subscribe to sites like ERE to stay closer to my customer’s world.

If you are working with Procurement people who don’t ‘get’ HR, RFPs and the like can be a real nightmare. Ironically, the skillsets that make someone a great recruiter transfer beautifully into procurement: what is an RFP but a selection process in which you systematically evaluate candidates and weigh their respective strengths and weaknesses against your requirements for the position? And representing my company at trade shows, supplier diversity events, etc., is much like working a job fair, as prospective suppliers sell their capabilities so I can assess whether there might be a need for their services and a potential fit with our requirements.

Coming from HR as I do, I tend to write very ‘behavior-based’ RFPs, asking vendors to provide specific examples, case studies, etc. that demonstrate how they have solved similar business problems for other customers in the past.

I’m sure some point I’ll return to the HR front lines; meanwhile the education I’ve gotten in Procurement beats any MBA program.

You can read the original article at:
http://www.erexchange.com/a/d.asp?cid=87490AE5278341679F22525128FED389

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http://www.erexchange.com/p/g.asp?d=M&cid=87490AE5278341679F22525128FED389

]]> By: Brenda Reynolds http://www.ere.net/2004/06/08/take-the-coffee-cup-and-step-away-from-the-desk-rfp-101/comment-page-1/#comment-4182 Brenda Reynolds Tue, 08 Jun 2004 07:15:00 +0000 http://www.ere.net/2004/06/08/take-the-coffee-cup-and-step-away-from-the-desk-rfp-101/#comment-4182 Beth Great article and very well said. I am not sure the water cooler conversation will cease until Human Capital is no longer viewed as an interchangeable part. I still marvel that people buy retreaded tires when you constantly see tire segments all over the highways. Nonetheless, they are cheaper and sometimes they last longer than expected. I have come to believe the same thought process is used to select contractors, temporary workers, and regular employees. I am not convinced, we (HR) has proven to management that quality does matter and that it is less expensive over time. I think we still have a ways to go. Nonetheless, understanding it is one of the first steps.<BR><BR>You can read the original article at: <BR>http://www.erexchange.com/a/d.asp?cid=87490AE5278341679F22525128FED389 <BR><BR>Post your own Article Review<BR>http://www.erexchange.com/p/g.asp?d=M&cid=87490AE5278341679F22525128FED389 <BR> Beth

Great article and very well said. I am not sure the water cooler conversation will cease until Human Capital is no longer viewed as an interchangeable part. I still marvel that people buy retreaded tires when you constantly see tire segments all over the highways. Nonetheless, they are cheaper and sometimes they last longer than expected.

I have come to believe the same thought process is used to select contractors, temporary workers, and regular employees.

I am not convinced, we (HR) has proven to management that quality does matter and that it is less expensive over time. I think we still have a ways to go. Nonetheless, understanding it is one of the first steps.

You can read the original article at:
http://www.erexchange.com/a/d.asp?cid=87490AE5278341679F22525128FED389

Post your own Article Review
http://www.erexchange.com/p/g.asp?d=M&cid=87490AE5278341679F22525128FED389

]]> By: Howard Adamsky http://www.ere.net/2004/06/08/take-the-coffee-cup-and-step-away-from-the-desk-rfp-101/comment-page-1/#comment-4181 Howard Adamsky Tue, 08 Jun 2004 06:14:00 +0000 http://www.ere.net/2004/06/08/take-the-coffee-cup-and-step-away-from-the-desk-rfp-101/#comment-4181 Beth: As a writer for ERE, I seldom comment on the work of others but I must make an exception. Your article was absolutely great. Informative, well written and a wonderful learning experience. As a matter of fact, it is so good, I wish I wrote it myself. You have raised the bar and helped to make ERE an even more valuable resource to the recruiting community. As an aside, please feel free to mail me one of those coffee cups. I am tired of drinking out of styrofoam. Best, Howard Adamsky <BR><BR>You can read the original article at: <BR>http://www.erexchange.com/a/d.asp?cid=87490AE5278341679F22525128FED389 <BR><BR>Post your own Article Review<BR>http://www.erexchange.com/p/g.asp?d=M&cid=87490AE5278341679F22525128FED389 <BR> Beth:

As a writer for ERE, I seldom comment on the work of others but I must make an exception. Your article was absolutely great. Informative, well written and a wonderful learning experience. As a matter of fact, it is so good, I wish I wrote it myself.

You have raised the bar and helped to make ERE an even more valuable resource to the recruiting community.

As an aside, please feel free to mail me one of those coffee cups. I am tired of drinking out of styrofoam.

Best,

Howard Adamsky

You can read the original article at:
http://www.erexchange.com/a/d.asp?cid=87490AE5278341679F22525128FED389

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]]> By: Kurt Westerholm http://www.ere.net/2004/06/08/take-the-coffee-cup-and-step-away-from-the-desk-rfp-101/comment-page-1/#comment-4180 Kurt Westerholm Tue, 08 Jun 2004 05:23:00 +0000 http://www.ere.net/2004/06/08/take-the-coffee-cup-and-step-away-from-the-desk-rfp-101/#comment-4180 Beth, You are dead on in your points about how to choose a staffing firm. As a 'local' we live and die by one thing. Quality of hire. We don't have the benefit of quantity over quality because our bread and butter are repeat business and referrals. We like other local firms are acutely aware that without quality we will not have the repeat business and referrals. Without those we are dead. Finally someone has brought the issue to light that cost although a factor is not everything. Thank You! <BR><BR>You can read the original article at: <BR>http://www.erexchange.com/a/d.asp?cid=87490AE5278341679F22525128FED389 <BR><BR>Post your own Article Review<BR>http://www.erexchange.com/p/g.asp?d=M&cid=87490AE5278341679F22525128FED389 <BR> Beth,
You are dead on in your points about how to choose a staffing firm. As a ‘local’ we live and die by one thing. Quality of hire. We don’t have the benefit of quantity over quality because our bread and butter are repeat business and referrals. We like other local firms are acutely aware that without quality we will not have the repeat business and referrals. Without those we are dead. Finally someone has brought the issue to light that cost although a factor is not everything.

Thank You!

You can read the original article at:
http://www.erexchange.com/a/d.asp?cid=87490AE5278341679F22525128FED389

Post your own Article Review
http://www.erexchange.com/p/g.asp?d=M&cid=87490AE5278341679F22525128FED389

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