
264 Principles of Supply Chain Management
Purchasing Functions: Participating
Purchasing functions and responsibilities have expanded, especially with the advent of
supply chain management and outsourcing. Companies recognize purchasing person-
nel should be involved in a number of strategic and tactical areas from which they had
previously been excluded. The movement of purchasing from a tactical implementer to
a strategic participant is a transition making a big change in how organizations view the
purchasing function. “Changes in business processes, increased globalization, techno-
logical advances, and increased demands by upper management are ...