Читать книгу Supplier Diversity For Dummies - Kathey K. Porter - Страница 14

Here’s what supplier diversity isn’t:

 A diversity and inclusion/HR function: Supplier diversity doesn’t focus on hiring and retaining a diverse workforce, creating employee resource groups, or cultivating an inclusive work culture (I discuss this difference in greater detail in Chapter 4).

 A philanthropic function: As a procurement and business function, supplier diversity doesn’t award contracts or enter into contractual agreements with businesses based on need or hardship. It involves a competitive process that businesses must be qualified for and able to perform.

 An external community relations or PR function: Yes, supplier diversity is community-facing thanks to its close relationship with the small and diverse business community, but it’s not a “voice” of the entire organization, nor does it act as a general spokesperson for all things happening.

 A set-aside or affirmative action program: Supplier diversity creates a pathway for small and diverse businesses to get a foot in the door. It encourages the utilization of small and diverse vendors but doesn’t “set aside” contracts for one particular group or advocate that contracts be awarded based solely on how businesses may identify. Remember: This distinction is especially relevant in the public sector, where public dollars are being spent. In fact, the federal government is the only entity that can legally set aside contracts for vendors based on their identification as part of a specific socioeconomic demographic.

 A catchall for other functions: Supplier diversity isn’t a job description that captures multiple, traditionally stand-alone functions into one position, and it’s not an add-on “get to it when you have time” job.

Although supplier diversity is a frequent collaborator with many departments and relies on internal relationships to advance its mission, keeping these points in mind helps programs avoid spending time on tasks that aren’t productive or don’t always contribute to the set goals. For example, although production and marketing often work together, having someone from production make marketing decisions for the organization may not be a good idea.