Procurement Leadership: From Means to Ends

Abstract

Procurement is often perceived as a tactical rather than a strategic function. Such perceptions result from the way procurement is usually defined as beginning after a need has been identified. Procurement thus focuses on tactical decisions involving means rather than on strategic decisions involving ends. For procurement to become strategic, procurement professionals must be recognized as having legitimate leadership roles in determining organizational ends. The paper presents two conceptual frameworks to move procurement in this direction. The first—pragmatism—resolves the dichotomy between ends and means. The second—a conservator model of agency leadership—highlights the importance of promoting and maintaining public procurement’s institutional integrity. Together, these may equip procurement professionals to adopt leadership roles in strategic organizational decision making.