Innovation Scouting: A New Challenge for the Purchasing Function

Richard Calvi (), Matti Pihlajamaa and Romaric Servajean-Hilst
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Richard Calvi: Savoie Mont-Blanc University, IREGE
Matti Pihlajamaa: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Romaric Servajean-Hilst: Kedge Business School

A chapter in The Nature of Purchasing, 2020, pp 295-313 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract In this chapter, our objective is twofold. First, we try to present a comprehensive vision of the evolutionary role of the purchasing function in regard to the offer creation process (OCP) of firms. We present three alternative organizational solutions enabling to effectively connect the purchasing actors to the OCP. Thereby, among the new roles emerging for the purchasing function, one is particularly specific to situations where top management is expecting a real contribution in innovation process: the role of innovation scouting. Therefore, the second objective of the paper is a conceptual contribution in order to shape what should be the specific content of scouting innovation from external resources. Our presentation takes into account two contingency factors: the degree of innovation maturity and the status of the target partners in the supply base (existing or new). As a synthesis, we propose a framework for choosing suitable organizing model for purchasing functions urged to increase their contribution to the OCP.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-43502-8_15

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