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The first step in mapping procurement to corporate strategy is to determine what constitutes the corporate strategy. Corporate strategy is not fixed. It depends on a variety of factors many of which are not under the control of the management of an organisation. Changes in external circumstances can cause significant shifts in corporate strategy and it is necessary for the procurement professional to be aware of the changes and to be capable of delivering an agile response.
For planning purposes, it is possible to distinguish between eight or nine corporate strategies depending on the sector of the organisation. There are a variety of procurement activities which can support these strategies and it is essential for the procurement professional to determine the blend of activities suitable for the circumstances of any strategy.
This requires not only a high level of procurement skill but also an ability to adapt and develop the agile response. The starting point is the knowledge of the possible corporate strategies and the procurement activities which support them.