USMBOK™: USM530
Supplier Management
A ‘supplier’ is an external entity that supplies goods or services to the service provider organization. Often used synonymously with ‘vendor’, a distinction is made in between strategic, long-term suppliers of service, termed ‘PROVIDERs’, and short-term, tactical suppliers – ‘SUPPLIERS’.
Tactical suppliers include vendors of consumable items, facility cleaning, and short-term support for leased technology. A tactical supplier could be replaced at short notice in pursuit of the required levels of service and cost.
The Supplier Management knowledge area is responsible for the planning and management of the tactical supplier.
Charter Statement:
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To effectively and efficiently manage the relationship between the service provider organization and its tactical suppliers, and to manage the acquisition and distribution of supplier goods and service.
Supplier Management Quick Links
Best PracticesKey Performance Measures
Additional information on this topic is included in the Guide to the USMBOK and supporting reference materials.
Key Objectives
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The following key objectives are just some of those commonly found within this topic's standard operating practices:
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Key Concepts
The following key concepts are just some of those commonly found within this topic's standard operating practices:
- Further information is available in the Guide to the USMBOK
Key Artifacts
The following key artifacts are just some of those commonly found within this topic's standard operating practices:
- Further information is available in the Guide to the USMBOK
Major Activities
The following major activities are representative of those commonly found within this topics's standard operating practices:
- Further information is available in the Guide to the USMBOK
More...
The USMBOK provides a significant amount of additional information on each element of the framework, including this area. The additional information includes:
Best Practices :
Best practices represents a technique or method that through experience and research has reliably led to a desirable level of operation. The USMBOK provides specific guidance on the 'best practices' required to design, implement and sustain an efficient and effective operation and offer these through a subscription based service, the
Best Practice Statement Library.
Key Performance Measures :
The efficiency and effectiveness of an operation is measured through its 'performance'. The Performance Management Framework (PMF) provides three levels or types of measures to help manage performance from the strategic, tactical and operational perspective.
The USMBOK provides specific guidance on these 'key performance measures' through a dedicated, subscription based service, the
Key Performance Measure Library.
Extensions:
An 'extension' is an approved additional relevant reference to the USMBOK and typically in the form of :
- A book or publication with an ISBN or similar reference;
- A website page or pages;
- A white paper;
- A personally penned article or report;
- A periodical article or newsletter item;
More information on the available extensions and how they may be accessed or contributions submitted can be found here:

