ART - Lean Thinking within Public Sector Purchasing Department: The Case of the UK Public Service - JoPP 2012

The document discusses the implementation of a lean sourcing process in the UK government's procurement procedures. The focus is on improving turnaround times for procurement and increasing market engagement. The document provides data on the number of contracts awarded and the average number of working days from contract notice publication to contract award date for different procurement procedures. It also discusses the government's policy changes regarding turnaround times, the use of competitive dialogue, and the choice of procurement procedure. The document highlights the positive early indications from pathfinder projects and the potential benefits of using the lean sourcing process. However, it also acknowledges the challenges and tensions in implementing the new policies and procedures. The document concludes by discussing the scope of application for the lean sourcing process and the ongoing debate about the extent to which the detailed process, i.e. the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), can be applied to all types of government procurement.