The pie-head theory of management is based on the notion that a little bit of a person’s time is better than none at all. It is not uncommon in organizations to find subject-matter experts that are engaged in major projects and are often asked to help out in areas that they have very little time for. So those that are being “helped” get a piece of the pie. Unfortunately, even if the person does a good job, they are limited in the amount of help they can provide. Conversely, if the help is marginal, and they are doing well in their mainline activities, it is rarely more than a blip in the performance highway for that person. Either way those being helped can be frustrated.

This is an issue that many service functions face when they look for support, or are assigned support, in the procurement process. Often, a service group will get a small portion of a staff specialist’s time to assist them with their procurement needs. This is not the fault of the staff person, assigned to assist the service function, that they are involved with big projects involving large volumes of raw materials or major purchases which often dwarf the support services budget. The organization cannot be faulted, it is putting resources where it will have the most impact. Unfortunately, for the service organization, they are receiving only a small portion of the staff member’s time – a piece of the pie so to speak.

The purpose of this firm, is to provide resources that specialize in the procurement of services and vendor management for an organization, in particular HR services. Rather than receiving support that is only a portion of a person’s time, you now have the opportunity to engage knowledgeable people to provide specialized support to meet your needs.

In short, we have shifted the paradigm. To continue the metaphor, our whole pie is procuring HR services. Even though you may still only need a piece of pie, you will be getting one that specializes in meeting your needs.

©2002 M. B. Taylor Associates, LLC