Category Management in Purchasing - 5th Edition by Jonathan O'Brien (Paperback)

About the Book

Approach sourcing strategically and deliver profitability and new supply-side value effectively with this step-by-step guide to the tools, techniques and application of category management.

Book Synopsis

Approach purchasing and procurement strategically, effectively and sustainably, with this comprehensive and practical guide to category management.

Category Management in Purchasing equips those working in procurement with the tools they need to ensure effective procurement in an ever changing landscape. Combining practical advice and theory, this essential resource is crucial for developing successful purchasing strategies. Covering new technology-driven approaches to category management, this new edition outlines digital transformations and technological advancements, from digital sourcing platforms to new tools and systems.

This edition also provides readers with the knowledge to approach complex sourcing situations not only effectively, but also sustainably. Including new guidance on how organizations and businesses can implement sustainability into their procurement strategies, Jonathan O'Brien recontextualizes category management in a time when responsible sourcing is more important than ever. This highly regarded and essential text provides what everyone in procurement needs when striving to make category management a reality.

Review Quotes

"Category Management in Purchasing is the cornerstone of comprehensive procurement improvement, including up-to-date approaches to category management that deliver organizational value."-- "Erik Stavrand, Co-Author of The Global Category Management Handbook & The Global Procurement Leader's Handbook and Partner, SEAK LLC"

"By reading this up-to-date masterpiece, you will understand why category management is still an essential topic."-- "Stéphane Morel, Director Procurement Capabilities & Standards, Fresenius Medical Care"

"Category management will continue to be relevant to procurement organisations, but it's changing fast. The tech revolution and influence of AI on our profession is a game-changer. Get all the knowledge you need for best practice category management from Jonathan O'Brien, one of the most respected thought leaders in the industry, in this new and revised edition."-- "James Meads, Founder, ProcurementSoftware.site and Host of The Procurement Software Podcast"

"Having worked with many organisations across a broad spectrum of industries, this latest edition of Category Management in Purchasing is as relevant today as a practitioners' go-to handbook as it ever has been. Updated to embed sustainable procurement, how to navigate the digital evolution, key success factors and more, this edition serves those new to category management as well as the experienced amongst us."-- "Rachael Legg, Independent Procurement Business Advisor and former Group Chief Procurement Officer, Johnson Matthey"

"I've always loved this book as a foundation for procurement practitioners. This new edition has been progressively updated to reflect our ever-changing time and the evolution of procurement that's required. This new edition puts category management at the centre of what procurement is about today."-- "Tom Mills, Procurement Protagonist and author of Procure Bites"

"I've been in procurement for 25 years and have found this latest edition of Category Management in Purchasing to be quite simply the most comprehensive, practitioner-focused reference and how-to guide that I've encountered. It's an accessible and pragmatic knowledge base filled with solid frameworks, techniques, tools, case studies and advice from a leading practitioner and expert on the topic."-- "Pierre Mitchell, Chief Research Officer & Managing Director, Spend Matters"

"Jonathan O'Brien's book is one of the most important resources for every procurement professional or student's library. The fifth edition incorporates the latest thinking on digital category management, and how sustainable and purposeful procurement should be built in to Category Management. Category Management in Purchasing remains a useful, significant and vital benchmark text for global procurement thinking and practice."-- "Peter Smith, Former President, CIPS and author of Bad Buying and Procurement with Purpose"

"Our Global Procurement organization has enjoyed great success in large part due to Jonathan O'Brien's category management principles and processes. We believe that Jonathan is the foremost expert on category management and his book provides the roadmap for sustainable long-term Procurement-generated business value."-- "Tom Walsh, Associate Director, Global Source-to-Pay Excellence Lead, Astellas Pharma US, Inc."

"This impressive fifth edition of Category Management in Purchasing keeps pace with procurement's increased maturity and sophistication. This book emphasizes the latest digital trends and sustainable practices while reinforcing proven practices and frameworks that continue to stand the test of time."-- "Kelly Barner, Co-Founder & Head of Content and Operations, Art of Procurement"

"With this fifth Edition, Jonathan O'Brien has further refined one of the foundational texts in procurement thinking over the last two decades. His updates on sustainability are exactly what the procurement industry needs."-- "Guy Strafford, Chairman, Carbon Quota"

About the Author

Jonathan O'Brien is the CEO of Positive Purchasing Ltd, based in Plymouth, UK. With over 30 years of experience, he has helped equip global organizations to increase their purchasing capability through digital platforms, training, education and working directly with practitioners and executive teams. He is the author of Supplier Relationship Management, Negotiation for Procurement and Supply Chain Professionals, The Buyer's Toolkit, and Sustainable Procurement, all published by Kogan Page.