, ,

Minimum Viable Contract

Contracting the terms in a business relationship involves a bizarre dynamic: the more you regulate, the more you have to regulate. It often starts with working out a limited number of situations, but soon the conversation becomes more detailed.…
,

Minimum Viable Relationship

Outsourcing engagements should be based on trust and collaboration. Isn't that obvious? Apparently, it is not. Outsources typically don't set up their selection process based on that premise. Clients often act like they don't trust potential…
, ,

Cultural fit (or not)

When companies decide to outsource part of their activities, this will require serious preparation. They invest time and effort in a sourcing strategy with considerations on what should or should not be outsourced. There is attention to the…
,

All the best for 2023!

What kind of year was 2022? This time of year is a time of reflection. Last year Covid was top of mind. In this part of the world, that is entirely different now, but in China, the worst is likely to come. Things are returning to normal while…
Happy New Year! 2022

Happy New Year! 2022

Reflections on 2021… Last year this time, I thought Covid could be a one-year thing. I was proven wrong. Two vaccinations later, we’re scheduled for a booster in early January, and the end is not yet in sight. Even so, the upsides of a…
Happy New Year! 2021

Happy 2021!

Looking back... In the grand scheme of things, 2020 will obviously be the year of the Corona-virus. But despite (and sometimes thanks to) Covid-19 it has also been a good year. In 2020 we re-invented the concept of family dinner into actually…
Lean Agile Procurement
, ,

Lean Agile Procurement

When starting as a freelancer, people warned me that I might get stuck. Some colleagues at the time were afraid that my development might come to a halt. Without the R&D back-up of a company or corporation, how would I come up with new ideas? It…
Agile Sourcing - toolbox
,

Agile Sourcing

Recently we launched our Agile Sourcing proposition, created to support organizations that want to generate more value in the collaboration with their IT suppliers. Inspired by various Agile principles… including a complete set of refreshing…
, ,

“So, anyway…” words of wisdom by John Cleese

Recently I came across a Google Talk with John Cleese who was interviewed about his memoirs "So, Anyway...". To call it an interview is a compliment to Jason Sanders who did his best to guide the conversation. Despite the no-doubt well-prepared…
The Art of Possibility
, ,

The Art of Possibility

Lately I came across the work of Benjamin Zander. He was the conductor for the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra for 20 years. He is also a renowned music teacher with students from all over the world. Apart from his musical career he co-authored…
David Marquet about Leadership
,

Turn the Ship Around! (or any other type of organization)

In my current engagement I came across the ideas of David Marquet, a captain in the US Navy with interesting ideas about leadership. He isn't the first articulating these kind of ideas but his context is unique as a nuclear submarine is an…
Beschuit met muisjes
, , ,

The beginning of something new: 2iQ Management & Consultancy

After 25 years, working for seven different employers in multiple countries on two different continents it was time for a new step. The real choice was to either support the vision of someone else or follow my own dreams and act on my own values…