There is a growing awareness in the global business environment of the importance of managing the supply side, also referred to as the input side, of business as a strategically important area. South African business managers are certainly also aware of the strategic significance of purchasing and supply management and the potential it holds for gaining a competitive advantage in an increasingly difficult and competitive business environment. This edition of Purchasing and supply management provides contemporary insights into this dynamic field of business management. Purchasing and supply management introduces new concepts and management tools to make purchasing and supply management more efficient in functioning within the broader concept of supply chain management. It covers not only basic principles, but also the activities incumbent on a purchasing and supply manager, as well as resources and areas of application. Furthermore, it addresses the relationships between purchasing and concepts such as logistics management and the more integrated system of supply chain management. This new edition has been comprehensively updated and includes case studies and multiple-choice questions which were not in the previous edition. It is therefore student friendly, but at the same time remains a valuable aid to the purchasing fraternity in South African business. Some of the more prominent topics that are included in this edition are the following: Purchasing and supply policies and strategies; purchasing price determination and cost analysis; evaluation and selection of suppliers; the management of quality; electronic commerce and electronic procurement applications; purchasing from small businesses. Purchasing and supply management is aimed at students in this field as well as practitioners in business.

This standard South African text has been revised to incorporate current management issues and offer contemporary perspectives in the field. The edition of this title retains its pragmatic element, while the theory has been made more accessible through the outcomes-based approach. It covers the basic principles of purchasing and supply management, the activities incumbent on a purchasing and supply manager, as well as resources and areas of application. It addresses the transition from basic purchasing and supply management to the more integrated system of supply chain management. Several contemporary notions, such as the supply chain management approach, strategic sourcing, electronic information systems, supply contract management, supplier relationship management, risk management and the purchasing of services are included. Ethical aspects and purchasing from small and disadvantaged businesses receive more emphasis in this edition. This new and updated edition of a trusted and reliable text offers stimulating new insights. Readers who are familiar with the previous editions will find the new one both exciting and rewarding.