The softer side of best value?

Of course, it’s more difficult to anticipate the ease of living with a contract than it is to capture the data required to complete a balanced score card or a balance sheet. Yet the ease of “relating” within the terms of a contract is often what truly determines a “win-win” for both parties. Case in point: the new contractual relationship between Penton Media and the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP), two leading organizations whose missions center on support of the public procurement profession.

Looking back at the compelling reasons for the union, one might observe that it was just a matter of time for the two businesses to partner. Penton had a successful publication going out to a mature distribution base that would need expansion to bring about the growth of the publication itself. NIGP sought to produce the “go-to” reference in the industry, but could not do so without substantial investment in human and capital resources. However, mutual need combined with attractive business terms were not the only determinants for what we believe will be an exciting, strengthening and ultimately successful relationship for the two organizations.

What became eminently clear in the process of negotiation was the alignment of corporate cultures, sense of purpose and willingness to communicate in a forthright manner. In this particular case, there was an uncanny commonality of character. Both Penton and NIGP are professional to the core, yet choose to express that through their products and an informal, personal business approach. Both have long served government purchasing professionals through educational resources that broaden practitioners’ awareness of issues and provide the skills required to effectively overcome the challenges of the profession. And if Dr. Phil, Oprah, Tyra and their afternoon talk-show compatriots are correct that communication is the key to a successful relationship, suffice to say that Penton and NIGP will do just fine.

From the strength of this foundation, Penton and NIGP jointly produce an updated and expanded version of the Government Procurement magazine formerly published independently by Penton. You hold in your hands the first edition of the new bimonthly periodical, GO PRO, which is the flagship official publication of NIGP and the public procurement profession. Distributed to more than 28,000 procurement professionals in government service, GO PRO becomes the most widely distributed publication dedicated to the success of contracting officials in local, state, provincial, and federal government agencies in North America. Together, we look forward to creating a beacon publication for our profession that illuminates the issues and the dedicated professionals who elevate the profession through their personal dedication.

In the spirit of good communication and providing you the best product, we invite your editorial comments, reactions to articles, topic suggestions and your own original submissions. Join us in the support of the profession and your peers by e-mailing your responses, ideas and materials to publication@nigp.org.

Brent Maas is director, marketing, for NIGP. Contact Maas at bmaas@nigp.org.