Job titles identify one’s responsibilities in the organisation. Title gives status that goes along with prestige and authority within the organisation.
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Individuals stand tall identifying themselves using job titles when professionals meet in various forums. After introducing one’s name, the title normally follows and in some cases, the name of the organisation.
This shows that individuals value their professions and accountants, engineers, doctors, pharmacists, architects, surveyors etc are not shy to identify with their professions.
In procurement, there is identity crisis. Most procurement staff is employed as ‘buyers’ regardless of level. Buying by definition is clerical, referring to mere acquisition of goods and services in exchange for money. Some titles like procurian are being introduced, but the wider definitions of procurement that are associated with immoral acts of prostitution have left professional institutions without the desire to use it for identity.
Unlike other professionals, procurement professionals lack a catch-word to identify their profession. Phrases such as “procurement professional”, “procurement expert” are commonly used. The issue is compounded by the fact that it is the only profession less regarded. It is a profession though one of the oldest, less developed and less recognised as well. It is also a profession that other professions dominate without the primary or basic procurement qualification.
One cannot be a medical doctor without practising medicine, the same with pharmacists, accountants, architects and surveyors. To note of interest is that it is not only the procurement profession that attract other trades into employment. Many engineers are now chartered accountants. This meant a total shift of profession from a chartered engineer removing the engineering cap to start learning new finance and accounting tricks altogether.
In short, one cannot practise in a specialised field without the necessary background qualification. This is not the case with procurement practise.
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Most procurement jobs are handled by staff without the necessary procurement background. While experience is the best teacher, lack of the primary procurement qualifications incapacitates unqualified procurement employees to innovate and adjust to the ever-changing procurement environment. In the end, it is the business, the economy and society in general that suffer. Procurement training therefore has no substitute.
The collaboration envisaged between the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) and local qualifications is a welcome move to professionalise the procurement function. CIPS is leading the journey of professionalising procurement. The introduction of the chartered member is the only global hope for uplifting the procurement profession. This shall be followed by the license to practice that ensures that employees of a certain quality only, can practice at certain levels.
The idea is very noble given the fact that there is nothing that is compelling procurement staff without qualifications to develop themselves at the moment. Such developments will drive the acquisition of the necessary procurement qualifications for eligibility for employment in procurement jobs. It shall also ensure that procurement employees sign to a code of ethics and will go a long way in reducing issues of fraud and corruption in procurement for fear of losing the practising license.
We look forward to the business environment that is driven by ethical, qualified and experienced cadres that drive innovation and competitiveness for the benefit of the nation at large.
Nyasha Chizu a Fellow of CIPS writing in his personal capacity. Feedback: [email protected]
