Rethinking the request for proposal process by replacing written responses with a competitive discovery phase
Conclusion: When engaging the market for suppliers, the objective of the procurement process is to select the supplier with the most suitable approach, who is able to accurately define the scope, and deliver in an effective and risk-mitigated way. In the context of a full project, for a proportionally minor investment, and a comparable amount of time and effort from key stakeholders, a competitive and paid discovery phase, involving multiple prospective suppliers, can yield significantly better outcomes for projects than through request for proposal (RFP) alone. The benefits include the ability to trial the delivery team, more accurately define scope, validate assumptions and hybridise the best of several informed approaches.
About The Advisor
Michael Smit
Michael Smit was an IBRS advisor between 2019 and 2020 who focused on project and program management, procurement and general IT business management. Michael’s experience began in tier 1 consulting and was further developed across a range of industries with a particular focus in oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and government sectors. Michael’s IT career began in project management and procurement, broadening into program management and ultimately into a head of department role, which he is currently active in. Michael has recently completed a full strategic roadmap delivery from definition to operations. The roadmap covered implementation of a Cloud-first strategy across infrastructure and end-user computing, delivery of new core business applications and full desktop refresh across seven countries. Michael’s active role in industry allows him to support clients with highly practical consulting services that are applicable in real-world scenarios.