The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) edged lower in December 2019 to 47.1 index points, down from 47.7 points recorded in November 2019. The December figure is about 1 point below the average recorded throughout 2019. The PMI paints a bleak picture of the manufacturing sector’s performance in 2019 as the headline PMI managed to edge […]
PMI paints a bleak picture of the manufacturing sector’s 2019 performance Read More »
By Steven PowellDirector of Forensics at ENSafrica Every organisation is susceptible to fraud, but some are more susceptible than others. This article provides an overview of the profile of a typical fraudster to help readers identify fraudsters operating in a business.
Fraud and corruption: how to catch a fraudster Read More »
With Halloween just past, it is time to consider whether your boss is scarier than your average ghoul or if your career is in the grip of a scary, old-world Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) and thus doomed to wither… Tania Seary, Founding Chairman of three companies specialising in the development of the procurement profession –
This Halloween beware the scary, old-world CPO Read More »
Irrespective of what you think about the way in which private- and public-sector procurement is conducted, the ultimate objective is the same. Creating ‘value for money’ is the most commonly used term among purchasing individuals. Government procurement expert, Stephen Bauld, has spent half his career working with private-sector organisations and the other half working with
Procurement perspectives: a procurement career pursuit is worth it Read More »
By Bertrand Maltaverne If there is one topic in business literature that has been covered exhaustively, it is key performance indicators (KPIs). But if you’re not careful, the indicators you set might inadvertently encourage behaviours that can be dramatically damaging… Case in point: in 19th-century India, the city of Delhi had a snake problem. A
What is the cure to the side effects of KPIs? Read More »
By Matodzi Ratshimbilani President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Minister of Finance have, on several occasions in the recent past, informed South Africa that mega state-owned enterprises (SOEs) will soon be under the helm of chief restructuring officers (CROs), of whom a lot is expected to turn around the fortunes of beleaguered SOEs. On 30 July
The unenviable task of the Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO) Read More »
The seasonally-adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) measured 52.1 index points in July 2019, up from 46.2 index points in June 2019. This is the first reading above the neutral 50-point mark since December 2018. “The improvement is well-supported by the underlying sub-components, with four of the major five sub-components coming in above the neutral
PMI and its sub-components improved in July but sustainability is in question Read More »
Becoming aware of blockchain’s weak spots is an important first step towards taking full advantage of what the technology really has to offer By Bertrand Maltaverne
Transparency in supply chains and blockchain: what is the most common trap? Read More »
The seasonally-adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 46.2 index points in June 2019, up from 45.4 in May 2019. “The average level for Quarter 2 of 2019 was 46.3 points, below the level recorded in Quarter 1 of 2019”, said the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) in a statement. In contrast, available official
June PMI up, but weak demand limits recovery potential Read More »
Inconsistency in procurement processes is prevalent. In many published articles on a variety of topics, corruption is much like a mushroom, it thrives in the dark. The benefit of competition is well-recognised by economists but, to a large extent, concern around public procurement processes is based more on the concerns of political science rather than
Procurement perspectives: corruption thrives on secrecy in government procurement Read More »
