The foundation

What does the evidence establish in each procurement area?

The Observatory examined 10 areas of buying separately, because their structures differ - who the parties are, what makes an outcome official, and how hard a wrong action is to undo. Each record holds that area's own evidence, what it could not settle, and the strongest argument against each reading.

• Requisition and guided buying deciding what employees are allowed to request and buy →
• Purchase order and fulfilment managing an order after it is issued →
• Goods receipt and acceptance confirming that what was ordered actually arrived →
• Invoice to payment checking an invoice and releasing money →
• Supplier onboarding approving a supplier to do business →
• Supplier risk checking whether a supplier remains acceptable →
• Contract lifecycle creating, changing and renewing agreements →
• Contingent workforce engaging contractors and external specialists →
• Direct materials sourcing components used to make a product →
• SaaS acquisition choosing and purchasing business software →