Register now or log in to join your professional community.
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 ...
" 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.
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.
I would say the closest is Business Administration yet life will teach you more than anything yet they do not teach life in universities :)
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
No preference. All would have a function depending on the role to be performed.
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.
I think it depend on discipline and category. Option A and B will work
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..
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
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.
