Purchasing agents and buyers spend money in some cases, millions of dollars per year. Money in today's society is power, and power is always accompanied by the temptation to misuse or abuse it. The purchasing professional must always remember the source of the money he or she controls and use that control judiciously. The attention of the salespeople and the contractors can sometimes be flattering, but purchasing professionals must remember that this flattery is usually directed at them because of the amount of money they control. The role of the purchasing professional demands exceptional objectivity and a realistic understanding of the difference between the power of the person and the power of the position.
Self-confidence is also often considered an essential personality requirement of effective professionals. Purchasers must not use the power of their position to boost their ego or sense of self-worth. Purchasing professionals must have a realistic sense of who and what they are that exists independently of their position. They must also be able to place the emotional rewards that the wielding of power provides in their proper perspective.
There is one other factor that has shattered the careers of some in the purchasing field. In order to better their chances of obtaining business, some, fortunately very few, companies offer inducements. These "sweeteners" may be in the form of cash, gifts, or other items of value. Every professional purchasing association and most companies have a purchasing code of ethics that defines the difference between accepting advertising items and accepting items that might be construed as inducements. If you wish to enter the field of purchasing, you must be prepared to accept this code of ethics as a way of life.
The field of purchasing is an exciting, challenging, and rewarding career, but it demands knowledge, skill, dedication, maturity of judgment, and, above all, unquestionable integrity.
