Procurement Fundamentals and Communication Skills Training Program

Tapahtuman ohjelma

TRAINING STRUCTURE

27.5.2025
Session 1: The foundation of procurement

Theme: Understanding procurement’s strategic role and the basics of procurement processes.

Content:

1. Introduction and expectations

• Icebreaker and course overview.

2. Procurement’s importance

• How procurement drives value (cost savings, risk management, innovation).
• Direct vs. indirect procurement and category management basics.

3. Procurement processes

• Overview: From need identification to payment.
• Key stages: Identifying needs, sourcing, contracting, and monitoring.

4. Interactive activity: Participants discuss procurement's impact on their organizations.

Takeaways:

• Clear understanding of procurement’s strategic significance.
• Insight into procurement’s role in organizational success.

28.5.2025
Session 2: Effective procurement practices and tools

Theme: Understand procurement core processes, supplier evaluation and interaction.

Content:

1. From need to proposal

• Defining needs and crafting procurement proposals.
• Differences in purchasing goods, services, and works.

2. Requests for proposals (RFP) and tendering

• Types of RFPs and their use.
• Structure and evaluation of proposals.

3. Supplier evaluation and relationship building

• Criteria for supplier selection (cost, quality, innovation).
• Building trust and managing supplier relationships.

4. Interactive exercise: Draft an RFP and evaluate sample supplier bids.

Takeaways:

• Ability to plan and execute effective procurement activities.
• Skills to interact with suppliers and build strong relationships.

4.6.2025
Session 3: Operational procurement and leveraging artificial intelligence

Theme: Managing contracts, operations, and using AI in procurement.

Content:

1. Contracting and legal aspects

• Key legal considerations: contract types and terms.
• Managing compliance and risks.

2. Operational procurement tasks

• Creating purchase orders and monitoring deliveries.
• Handling deviations, complaints, and returns.

3. Leveraging AI in procurement

• Applications of AI in supplier selection, cost forecasting, and spend analysis.
• Benefits: Enhanced decision-making, process automation, and efficiency gains.
• Risks and ethical considerations of AI in procurement.

4. Interactive activity: Explore AI tools (e.g., generative AI) through case studies.

Takeaways:

• Practical understanding of AI applications in procurement.
• Confidence in integrating AI tools into procurement strategies.

5.6.2025
Session 4: Human interaction, and stakeholder skills in procurement

Theme: Building interpersonal and collaboration skills for procurement success.

Content:

1. Human skills in procurement

• The role of empathy in building trust and relationships.
• Resilience and managing pressure in procurement contexts.

2. Communication in procurement contexts

• Effective communication with stakeholders and suppliers.
• Soft vs. hard negotiation styles – when and how to use them.
• Non-verbal communication: gestures, tone, and body language.

3. Stakeholder collaboration and conflict resolution

• Identifying stakeholder needs and expectations.
• Mapping stakeholders and prioritizing relationships.
• Solving conflicts collaboratively and achieving shared goals.

4. Interactive activities

• Sharing experiences of human skills in action.
• Building a stakeholder map for real-life scenarios.

Takeaways:

• Enhanced interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Better collaboration and alignment with stakeholders.

Tapahtuman kouluttajat

Lauri Vihonen

Trainer, Consultant

Lauri Vihonen is an inspiring, energizing, and perspective-expanding trainer and facilitator. His specialty lies in enhancing procurement and sales expertise, combining the development of knowledge, skills, and attitude in an innovative way during his training sessions. Vihonen also regularly facilitates roundtable discussions for LOGY's Procurement Forum.

Lauri Vihonen’s expertise as a trainer is grounded in a strong business background gained across various domains. He has led sales and procurement, managed business units, served as a country director, and overseen IT operations in both global corporate-level and country-specific roles. His experience spans both the private and public sectors, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of diverse business environments.