Category management input mapping

Abstract

Category Management is a strategic initiative that helps practitioners and organizations address spend and recognize opportunities, this is done by application of activities and arrangements that aim to capture the essence different contemporary issues to effect change. This practice-based thesis is conducted to categorize primary inputs that constitute to identifying value in the category process. Consequentially mapping methodology is conceptualized to display a variety of procedures and enablers that shape the initiative in fundamental ways. This research effectuated by two key perspectives: distinguishing and defining potential subcategorization of procedures and other inputs as well as grouping inputs into larger segments based on functionality. Several mappings are resultant alongside recommendations on how to utilize said mappings to help practitioners succinctly build more cohesive understanding on what factors impact the way category management is carried out.

The author suggests approaching input segmentation in three ways, dividing procedures into distinct procedure types, defining common themes that occur across procedures and lastly dividing inputs into tangible and intangible elements to demonstrate the dynamics of inputs and how they are embedded into the process of category management. By assimilating these segmentations for inputs the comprehensiveness of the process may be more effortlessly internalized and perspective expanded to understand the elements to consider before and during the process of category management.