• Identify and discuss relevant organizational challenges in management of global sourcing and discuss the impact on the organization as a whole
• Identify processes, techniques and assessments for realizing global sourcing synergies
• Explore and discuss effective category management strategies and processes in order to balance cost, risk, and value
• Structure relationships with suppliers and prepare negotiations
• Analyze and discuss the impact of digitalization on global sourcing management

The course's perspective is that of the Procurement Category Manager. Identifiying buying synergies across the organization is the basis of global sourcing management. Based on these synergies, buying tasks are categorized - most often by the procurement department - in order to capture maximum value from complex global sourcing activities. The course therefore first and foremost deals with the various challenges and management dilemmas the procurement category manager is facing when sourcing globally. Examples of such dilemmas are whether sourcing should take place from a local or global organizational unit and what type of supplier relationship should be developed for a specific category.

The course also digs into how products and suppliers may be categorized as well as impacts of the choices made. Contract management and compliance is further discussed as well as approaches to negotiations with suppliers. Last, but not least, digitization of procurement practices through f. ex. AI and e-procurement is discussed.

Real-life category managers will present real-life challenges as they experience them in their organizations in class. We will then discuss these cases by applying the theoretical concepts and models to expand the understanding and learnings from particular cases to more general global sourcing management situations.

This course is part of the Minor in Strategic Procurement but can be taken independently. 

The course provides the foundation of procurement (purchasing and supply management) knowledge. Data, mostly qualitative in the form of practice presentations, is basis for analysis and discussions of ambiguity and the dilemmas a category manager faces. 

Critical thinking is emphasized in the course. This is highly important due to the competitive role of global sourcing in many companies. Ethics is a built-in issue of procurement and global sourcing.

Global sourcing creates prosperity beyond the individual company through value created from global connections.

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