Amazon.com description: Product Description: Written by a leading expert in this area of study, this completely revised book brings together the diverse body of knowledge on supply chain management and how the effective management of external suppliers can have a significant impact on corporate performance. Purchasing and Commercial Relationships covers the syllabus for the CIPS option in this subject and is endorsed by CIPS. It is the only comprehensive text available at this level on this important subject and will be useful for both students and practitioners interested in the development of commercial relationships. This new edition addresses the enablers of an effective supply chain - the contracts made with suppliers and then how subsequent relationships should be best managed. It has been updated to include more detail on: E-Procurement - the uses of internet technologies, the scope and types of E-Procurement systems - and on a number of the key developments in public sector contracting, such as Best Value, the Private Finance Initiative as well as a guide to the European Union Directives on Procurement. The introduction of Lean Supply concepts and the subsequent development of the "partnership" approach have revolutionised the relationships between buyer and seller, in particular the non-adversarial approach to buyer/supplier relationships. The objectives now move from win/lose to win/win and joint maximisation of profits. The book critically appraises this approach and moves beyond partnership sourcing and attempts to show how inter-firm relationships can be used to develop competitive advantage and mutual benefits.