4 x half days

Dates to be confirmed

This two-day program provides participants with the knowledge and tools to master category management using a proven process cycle. Day one establishes foundational understanding, while day two focuses on practical strategy development and implementation. You will learn the core steps involved in category management including alignment to the strategic objectives, using value drivers and analysis and building and confirming your hypothesis.

Day one topics

Foundations of category management: definitions and importance.
Understanding strategic objectives: linking your category to the business needs, understanding stakeholder requirements, and market dynamics. Defining success measures and timelines.
Defining your category: clearly establishing the scope, boundaries, and characteristics of a category to ensure focused and effective management. Learning who your stakeholders and suppliers are, the market dynamics and trends in spend. We discuss common pitfalls with category definition.
Value drivers: the key factors that create value for the organisation within a category, extending beyond simple cost reduction to encompass total value optimisation. Cost, quality, risk, innovation, service enhancement – we explore a prioritization matrix and qualification process.
Category hypothesis development: a preliminary strategic thesis about how to best manage a category based on initial analysis, serving as a roadmap for deeper investigation. The current state and the opportunities, strategic direction and expected outcomes. We also look at assumptions and how to gather effective data to prove or disprove the hypothesis.

Day two topics

Analysis tools and techniques: explore different types of analysis important to category management. We look at spend analysis and supply market and supplier analysis. This includes risk profiling, relationship mapping, value chain, technology and innovation as well as supplier segmentation.
Hypothesis confirmation: using a validation testing framework, we explore data, feedback, the market and risk. In this session we also discuss evidence gathering methods and the confirmation criteria.
Implementation planning: translating strategy into actionable plans with clear timelines, responsibilities, and success measures. We explore strategic initiatives, tactical actions and dependencies and resource requirements. Phasing and timing is also discussed. We explore governance structures, roles and responsibilities, decision authority and KPI monitoring.
Review and update: maximise your category value with continuous improvement, monitoring and adjusting. Explore changing markets and updating your strategy using feedback, performance assessment and environment scanning.

Who should attend the Specification Writing Training?

Skilled procurement professionals taking the next step to advance their thinking and approach to category management.