Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Tuesday, 18 October 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
A delegation led by ISMM President Danesha Perera and Senior Delegate Gerry Hidelaratchi along with Noel Wickremasinghe, Anil Ponweera, K.P.A. Mettananda, Gayan Perera and Cdr. Asela Bulathsinghala attended the Global Summit conducted by International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management. The delegates from all over the world numbering more than 125 attended the Global Summit.
The IFPSM Council Meeting was held on 15 September in Stockholm, Sweden. Senior delegate Hidelaratchi and President Perera attended the meeting representing the ISMM. The meeting was headed by IFPSM President Svante Axelsson and was conducted by Charles Holden, Director General IFPSM. ISMM Sri Lanka contributed to the subject discussed with regard to the admission of new members.
ISMM President Perera said that IFPSM announced to have its council meeting in Sri Lanka in 2014 along with the Asia Pacific Council Meeting. He further said that ISMM would make this opportunity to have a one day international seminar using the global speakers who visit Sri Lanka.
The Global Summit theme for the 2011 was ‘Building a More Professional World’ and the opening address was given by Axelsson.
At the summit, Professor Richard Lamming made a key note plenary and Soeren Vammen – President-elect made a presentation on ‘Strategic Challenges for Associations’.
An exhibition was held to display the product and brochures of respective institutions to promote their activities and to give better understanding to other institutions.
At the technical sessions conducted on 15, 16 and 17 September 2011 the following important subjects were discussed.
Wouter Crul from the Dutch Association NEVI and Akanit Smitabindu of the Thai Association, PSCMT debated the challenges, opportunities and implications that arise when the interests of the international association meets national association’s interests.
Paul Novak of the US Association, ISM and Lena Larsson of the Norwegian association, NIMA debated on the conflicting expectations, needs and opportunities that arise when an association’s capacity is focused on either major multi-nationals or SMEs.
Speaking on public procurement Rick Grimm of the US public procurement association, NIgp, and Joseph Ogachi of the Kenyan association, KISM, pointed out the need for there to be greater interaction between emerging and established protocols that guide the legislation of public procurement in nation states.
The new established CEN Purchasing Standard was presented at the summit. Ferran Banos and Jose Francisco Garrido from the Spanish association AERCE briefed the gathering on the importance of the standard, how it is evolving and how associations can use it.
Dr. Paul Davis IIPMM, a member of the working party presented and led the discussion on ‘Consistent Political Leadership in Procurement’ and how the initiative is relevant to all countries. He also pointed out what can be done by associations individually and collectively, to make public procurement more taxpayer beneficial.
It has long been the perception that there is some form of template for success in building a membership association. Charlie Villasenot of PASIA, Philippines, and Margaret Rose of CAPP, Caribbean discussed the novel approaches used by two new IFPSM associations in reaching success.
The Global Standard was launched at the Summit that will become the international standard for degree level equivalent programmes. Nora Neibergall and Pail Davis explained further what the standard means, how it is relevant to educational programmes and how to get assistance in acquiring the prestigious standard.
International training opportunities on the internet is a powerful opportunity to extend both educational reach as well as to generate revenue. Cindy Urbaytis spoke about webinars, how they are run and the potential that they offer.
Charles Holden drove the attention of the gathering towards administrative overheads that stretch the association funds and how the excess capacity in administration that can increase a association revenue. He also pointed out the benefit that can be obtained through higher levels of inter-activity.
Axelsson explored the ways building capacity to increase income of an association and explained the ways to generate the revenue to grow.
Professor Andre Friedman, CEO of PARN, focused on aspects of governance, particularly the skills in managing the transition of trustee focus from operational to strategic leadership and moving on to more democratic development of member ownership of governance.
After a short presentation, Andre led a discussion on a wide variety of governance issues that arose from his presentation and that were raised in questions, which may be constitutional, concerned with infrastructure, process, etc.
This session was a unique opportunity for small and medium sized associations to engage with significant expertise on issues that often tax the smooth evolution of associations. Although the subject does not sound that attractive, it is probably one of the most relevant for small and medium sized associations.
He further said that the presentation made by Cicilia Hermonsson on ‘Global Economy and Trade Development’ on 17 September was very informative and it gave the understanding of the United States and world recession.
The Asia Pacific Council Meeting was held with the presence of Asia Pacific President Dr. Stephen WKNG, IFPSM President Axelsson and IFPSM Director General Charles Holden. At this meeting strategies for Asia Pacific were discussed and agreed on.
President ISMM Perera too spoke to the council members of Asia Pacific Region along with other representatives of the other Asian countries and requested to work out a strategy that could lead to developing the Asia Pacific Region rather than agreeing on predetermined objectives.
All members of the region agreed and it was decided to quickly run through the most vital issues that should be focused to achieve results in the long run. After scrutinising the ideas table, it was shortlisted to find the three most important areas to focus in three groups. Accordingly, the following were selected and requested to focus as groups:
Perera volunteered to work in the team to build strategies for Asia Pacific profile. He said that overall the Global Summit was well organised. Further Perera said that council meeting of Asia Pacific would be held in April 2012 in Philippines and Global Summit will be held in 2013 in Thailand.
In conclusion, Perera thanked the ISMM delegation for effective participation in the conference and also he stressed that it was important for SCM professionals in Sri Lanka participating in such conferences to interact with SCM professionals in other parts of the world and to be proactive in a competitive business environment.
The IFPSM official dinner was held on 16 September in an old restaurant away from the hotel and all delegates were taken there by boat.
