Assignment Brief A proactive strategic procurement operation can give the organisation it represents a competitive advantage by reducing waste in the value chain. For an organisation of your choice, you are asked (a) to critically examine the Procurement function, (b) by considering 2-3 areas below investigate how the Procurement function can be improved and compensate external turbulences in the markets.  -      Procurement Strategy -      Strategic Sourcing and Outsourcing -      e-procurement -      Sustainable Procurement -      Supply Risk You will also need to take the following into account when completing your assignment: -      Quality of executive summary (does it give a brief complete summary of your paper for an executive to read?) -      Establishment of relevant theory (e.g. what do we mean by global sourcing?) -      Allocation of credit and sources used (have I included references and citations to the material I have used?) -      Clarity of argument -      Overall report presentation including spelling and grammar -      Adherence to the 3000 words limit (+/- 10%) -      Fully referenced using the Harvard Referencing System (or APA) Expectations The analysis should draw on an extensive literature research on the topic of Procurement Management. As a master’s level assignment, the student will be expected to generate a report which has the following characteristics: ·         Properly formatted professional paper including Title Page, Contents, Introduction, Main Section (listing the main points), Recommendations (if needed), Conclusion, References, and Appendix (as needed). ·         Has a clear logic, flow and focus, addressing all parts of the assignment question. ·         Clear presentation of data and utilisation of the Harvard Referencing Standard. ·         Evidence of critical analysis supported by the existing body of academic and professional resources. Supporting data should be sourced from a wide range of sources including academic databases, consulting reports and professional bodies. ·         Evidence of engagement with module content and personal research will be sought. ·         Evidence of an understanding of the operation and challenges of running a multinational business with a specific focus on culture, employee engagement and leadership. ·         The presented theories and best practices should be supported with examples. The “Academic Writing” thread in the Web Forum for the module provided more details.