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Due Diligence

For me, 2024 was a full, fun and educational year. In various roles (project leader, researcher and advisor) I performed a double materiality analysis, co-wrote an annual report, held workshops, conducted research, wrote an article and advised…
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Public procurement and the CSRD

This issue about the relationship between public procurement and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) arises regularly as the CSRD is gradually introduced from 2024. Many companies are now busy preparing for the CSRD. What…
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AI, a brilliant nerdy sibling?

When updating my website, I also wanted to refresh the images with the various blogs. The existing illustrations were of varying quality, format and style. More importantly, the photos were found online, and copyright issues may have been involved.…
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Everybody is into Sourcing

Sourcing seems a relatively new field. Many associate sourcing primarily with the big IT outsourcing deals from the 1990s and the early 21st century. Comprehensive initiatives where assets and people were transferred to international service…
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Well, yes, but why not do it better?

On October 12, Sourcing Nederland organised a seminar "an alternative view on sourcing". We heard an interesting story about mediation from Lieneke Viergever and Patrick Wit. I was provided the opportunity to share some thoughts about alternative…
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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.…
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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…
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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, considering what should or should not be outsourced. There is attention to the scope (involving…
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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…
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“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…
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The key to motivation: Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose

Career analyst Dan Pink has been looking at the science of human behavior. Particularly he looked at the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. His conclusion is plain and simple: we are doing something completely wrong! More than…
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Musical chairs in the corporate world

Career development systems in a consultancy firm have some nasty streaks in it. First I'll explain how it works and then why I think we should abolish it in this form asap. The career development in many partnership firms is a variation on…