Abstract:

Purchasing has evolved from its administrative and supporting function to the strategic one and it has become one of the crucial business activities which play a critical role in the process of value creation. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the process of value added of purchasing function up to recently and to characterize the significance of the strategic purchasing for the company itself. The importance of strategic purchasing to achieve business success is discussed and supported by literature review. The literature review demonstrates also the necessity of integration of the purchasing strategy into the business strategy. This alignment creates a linchpin for creation of a competitive advantage and competitive scope.  The empiric part of this paper presents a pilot study based on the method of expert panel discussion. The panel of experts consisted of purchase department managers from various industrial businesses of the Czech Republic.  This pilot study represents the first step in the analysis of the current status of the purchasing within the organisations and businesses located in the Czech Republic. Moreover, it also creates a basis for further research in the area of purchasing management.