Competency Module: Technology Management

Description

The demand and necessity for technology in the modern world is increasing. The successful procurement and utilization of technology is a requirement to function in the world. Procurement must stay up to date about constantly changing technology and how to procure it without exposing their entity to high levels of risk. A knowledgeable, or tech-savvy, procurement professional brought into the procurement planning process and allowed to participate in the full scope of the project increases the success of the project.

As a result, Procurement and IT professionals are working together more frequently. Working in collaboration, these professionals can overcome end user reluctance to change by creating and engaging cross-functional teams and utilizing needs assessments.

Objectives

In order to successfully earn a digital badge, learners must:

• Examine technological trends and their impact and suitability for use in the procurement function.

• Use techniques for dealing with changing technology to overcome stakeholder hesitancy or reluctance.

• Employ skills to promote professional usage of current technology in support of the procurement function.

Intended Audience

Designed to promote applicable experiences for practitioners working in the public sector, NIGP’s Pathways competency courses empower learners with the ready-to-implement actions they need to succeed in public procurement. This introductory course is designed for:

• Public procurement and central warehouse professionals who serve as assistants, coordinators, buyers, or equivalent functions within their respective entities.
   
• Non-procurement managers and supervisors who are responsible for either the procurement function or staff who provide procurement functions under delegated authority.
   
• Professionals who are employed by governing entities and special authorities (such as K-12 and higher education, publicly-owned utilities, transportation providers, and other publicly-funded or created organizations) that either serve within or manage the procurement function.
   

• Suppliers or representatives of suppliers seeking to understand the public procurement function from a holistic level, including the policies, standards, and procedures by which public entities must function.