As the reverse auction increases in popularity as a way for buyers to drive vendor costs down, more suppliers are choosing not to participate in them. Suppliers are resisting the pressure to reduce profitability and commoditize their products and services. However, a strategy to avoid reverse auctions is not the best or only way to […]

A reverse auction (also called procurement auction, e-auction, sourcing event, e-sourcing or eRA) is a tool used in business-to-business procurement. It is a type of auction in which the role of the buyer and seller are reversed, with the primary objective to drive purchase prices downward. In an ordinary auction (also known as a forward

Many training initiatives are reactive in nature. An influential executive notices a skill gaps or deficiency and prescribes training as the remedy without careful consideration for the long-term benefits. In fact, training alone will rarely, if ever, provide for lasting and productive change in the way people do their jobs. People are able to change

According to the latest annual report by Training Magazine, U.S. organizations spent $58.5 billion for training (including payroll and training budgets) with $16.3 billion spent on external learning products and services. While growth in the training industry tailed off (6% growth versus 7% in 2006), staffing and training budgets increased by 4.8%. Breaking it down

Common sense dictates that if we can control our emotions when confronted with a difficult situation, we will achieve better results. We have all seen how police officers are trained to remain calm in the face of angry, belligerent suspects. We admire the basketball player who coolly sinks the winning free throws while the student

This is an excerpt from the book The Power of NICE by Ron Shapiro, Mark Jankowski and Jim Dale. Here are three warnings – don’ts – to keep in mind when you are digging for information during a negotiation: 1. Don’t Mind-Read Don’t assume you know what the other side is thinking and simply proceed

Let’s explore the art and science of preparing for the pharmaceutical sale at the Individual level. We believe that the clearest path from the waiting room to changing the prescribing habits of a physician (or physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner) is to: 1. Build credibility – in short, you have to know your stuff. Most

Preparing to Influence at the Practice Level When getting ready to sell to a physician, the pharmaceutical sales professional has to take many things into account. Every rep knows what the physician is writing, what their share of the market is in whatever class of drug they are selling, and where they stand in regard

Hello and welcome to The SNI DealCoach Daily – a community of experienced negotiators, sales consultants and everyday dealmakers who want to maximize your results in today’s turbulent times. As the economy tightens, effective negotiation skills become more important than ever. It is imperative to commit yourself and your organization to achieving “win-win” deals. Though