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Which academic discipline is more appropriate for Procurement profession? A) Engineering B) Accounting C) Business Admn D) Law E) No pref ?

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Question added by Nadeem Asghar , Supply Chain Consultant/Trainer , Independent Practitioner
Date Posted: 2016/12/17
Elke Woofter
by Elke Woofter , Project Assistant , American Technical Associates

I would say C) & B)

It does not hurt having some knowledge of the law or legal contracts and if you are working in an Engineering environment ... you should be able to read blueprints and shop drawings ... 

I had to work close with finance, and business admin. .... so having a knowledge in business and accounting came in handy ..... not to mention my background in engineering ... I was able to hand sketch and tolerance parts i been given to order, since we could not find the part listed on any drawing.

The point is you got to be flexible and possess a good knowledge what you are ordering and should have a good knowledge what are legal ways to order.

I recommend to read books dealing with Purchasing ... 

Rajesh Yeluri
by Rajesh Yeluri , Asst. Manager Logistics , Samsung SDS SCM ME DWC LLC

" Experience makes man Perfect "

Above statement compliments option E - No preference until have have practical Experience.

In the Market, have personally seen and worked with Procurement team who are of different educational backgrounds. But it always count how you are professionally attached to what you are professionally on as your Job.

But while the question is asked which Academic discipline is more appropriate, i would personally vote for Business Administration as this is the Academic discipline which provides you a basic platform of Business activities, knowledge Platform for Market and Economic strategies where in you are your thoughts are trained on Business. Everything on a business Organization are taught with appropriate examples and eveluations by professional Businees Peers. You will have knowledge of Procurement activities and principles even before you practically choose your working profession and this boast your confidence and growth in any organization.

Moustafa Abouelsaad
by Moustafa Abouelsaad , Procurement & Logistics Director , Kharafi Construction, Kuwait

Usually I am replying to any one claiming that Procurement professional should be an Engineer with the following Question: “Which type of engineering do you mean, Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Chemical, IT or Petroleum and Mining??”

In my opinion Procurement professional should has Academic Commercial studies which generally commercial law is included as one of its studies.

Any technicalities will be learned through his professional experience based on his industry field and of course with support of Technical Team.

 

Mohammed Awad
by Mohammed Awad , Operations Coordinator - Jordan and Iraq (Consultancy) , Lutheran world federation

I would say the closest is Business Administration yet life will teach you more than anything yet they do not teach life in universities :)

Deleted user
by Deleted user

several engineering companies prefer procurement professionals with engineering background. option (a) is the preferred choice. knowledge in business law and business education is a definite plus

Terrence Walmsley
by Terrence Walmsley , Owner , The Awesome Group of Companies

No preference. All would have a function depending on the role to be performed.

Zaferullah Sharief, PMP®
by Zaferullah Sharief, PMP® , Project Manager , Huawei Technologies

For me Option B Or C is suitable for procurement professional since he has to know the market strategy, trends, finance, cost etc. etc... as part of his job function.  And about the technical staff he can get support from the project staff or SME (Subject Matter Expert) from the Technical Department.

Muhammad Farooq
by Muhammad Farooq , QA-QC Manager , AL Bawani Contracting Co

I think it depend on discipline and category. Option A and B will work

jasmina malnar
by jasmina malnar , Head of Marketing and Indirect Procurement , Hrvatski telekom

Depends on the category, I guess. It gets very different when you are buying marketing and indirect compared to IT or engineering. Legal knowledge is a must, but does not have to be a degree. Procurement requires talent and passion for the job, not necessarily a specific degree..

Mohamed  Faizal
by Mohamed Faizal , Sr. Accountant , Senyar Industries Qatar Holding (Aamal Group)

I would say A, B and D. because.

A) Engineering to know the technical about the products.

B) Accounting knowledge will be use for the costings.

D) Law to know all legal procedure for the contracts and logistics 

Abid Khan
by Abid Khan , IT Procurement Consultant , Arcblue Consulting Ltd

 

There is no single appropriate academic discipline for procurement, however the job description and function will prioritize one discipline background from another, for example if a firm is looking to hire a procurement professional for contracts administration so maybe they will give priority to candidates with law background similarly if the position available mainly deals with engineering products or solutions then someone with engineering background will be preferred. And moreover with experience you learn more rather than books and degree.  

 

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