THE PROCUREMENT INTERVIEW
ROB TURNER’ S DOS AND DON’ TS
• Do start with a clear mandate – Know what success looks like before you begin.
• Do anchor every decision to value – Whether digital or operational, stay outcome-focused.
• Do adopt best practice“ out of the box” – Avoid legacy customisation and tech debt.
• Do invest in your team’ s capability early – Confidence drives adoption.
• Do embed risk and compliance into workflows – Make the right thing the easiest thing.
• Do co-own savings with Finance – Trust and transparency matter more than claims.
• Do communicate constantly and credibly – Change fails when people don’ t understand the‘ why’.
• Do sequence major programmes intentionally – Resource and decision interlocks must be managed.
• Do choose partners that scale with you – Ecosystem thinking is critical for longevity.
• Do treat digital transformation as a cultural shift – Technology is only part of the equation.
• Don’ t overcustomise systems – It delays progress and embeds the past.
• Don’ t let perfection delay momentum – Fast execution with strong governance wins.
• Don’ t centralise every decision – Empower teams with frameworks, not bottlenecks.
• Don’ t assume compliance will follow implementation – Build it in from day one.
• Don’ t talk about procurement in procurement language – Speak the language of the business.
• Don’ t go it alone – Partner wisely, both internally and externally.
• Don’ t lose sight of people in the process – Culture, capability and clarity drive success.
• Don’ t chase technology for its own sake – Focus on what problem it solves.
• Don’ t forget the optics – Credibility is earned through consistent delivery and visibility.
40 September 2025