changing face of professionalism, The

Professional development is a raison d'etre for the Materiel Management Institute and one of the things it does best. Bob Myers' day job is Director of Materiel Management and Contracting for Canadian Heritage, but he's even better known among peers as Vice President of Professional Development for the MMI. Bob speaks about the challenges the community is facing and gives some early insights into the upcoming Materiel Management National Workshop.

The Image of the government procurement community

There are many dynamics in place. Technology, globalization and the changing workplace are only a few. The government materiel management and supply community is no longer perceived as just administrative. It is a viable partner in overall service delivery. Business ventures, whether partnerships, sponsorships, procurements, contracts, strategic alliances or any business arrangements, require materiel management specialists. More frequently now, government does business using some form of outsourcing, and government managers are not business people, nor are they supposed be. The materiel management specialist provides a professional business understanding within the public service. Our job is to build and foster strong relationships throughout the business process. We are the people who are adept at determining what business arrangement is appropriate - true 'knowledge workers,' who bring to bear information, experience and understanding that others may not have.

Increased government scrutiny and accountability

There has always been a legal accountability structure for everything government does, but there is no question it has become highly complex. With technological advances, government has become so much more transparent. People can look at us more extensively from the outside. That may make government more vulnerable but it also makes it far more accountable, fair, open and transparent - the main policy objectives of our government. This has to be what we are striving for in the procurement community and it makes our professionalism that much more crucial.

The importance of the materiel management community

Public service managers are realizing the value added or, if you wish, the added value of the community in overall government business. The Treasury Board has recognized the importance of our professionalism by establishing the Program Office in the Materiel and Risk Management Program within the Professional Development Advisory Committee. That office is working hard to bring departments together to determine what we need to train our workers to do and how we truly become knowledge workers-- everything from professional qualifications to course content and curriculum.

The 13th Annual Materiel Management National Workshop (MMNW)

The national workshop has grown in popularity and sophistication over the years and it is an incomparable value for participants.

At this stage, the theme for the MMNW 2002 will be `modernizing service delivery with our partners.' Partners are anyone-- our clients within departments, other departments, other governments, politicians, businesses, suppliers and, most importantly, Canadians. The theme reflects the expanded role of our community to be there every step of the way, to be included earlier in the planning stages, to be a strategic partner in forward thinking approaches within our organizations, all to ensure we arrive at sound procurement decisions. We are looking at five key streams: business partnerships, building a strong community, strategic planning, emerging trends and best practices. There's no doubt it will be the place to be this spring for anyone in, or aspiring to be in, the materiel and supply field.

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The Materiel Management Institute (MMI) is a national non-profit association open to all who work in the materiel management field or have related materiel management responsibilities - contracting, purchasing, materiel administration, materiel services, inventory control and ware-- housing, and all aspects of the life cycle management of materiel services and government assets.

The MMI is governed by a Board of Directors with membership representation from across the country.

Robert Myers, vice-president du Perfectionnement professionnel de I'IGM/Vice President of Professional Development, MMI

Copyright Summit Group Dec 2001
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