SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION
DREXEL UNIVERSITY
90 and flexibility while still being mindful of her team ’ s core mission . “ A lot of the changes in procurement have happened pretty fast ,” she explains . “ We had to begin to transition into new , creative ways of thinking . And with that kind of culture shift come policy and process updates .”
Understanding the needs of Drexel meant not strictly adhering to a best price model . Instead , Jones reshifted the focus of the procurement function to what she calls ‘ best value ’. “ We have to be budget conscious , of course , but sometimes you might also have to pay a little bit more because the product or the service that you need is really represented better at a slightly higher price ,” she explains . “ We want to provide a quality service and get real results .”
SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION
A key dynamic in instituting policy and process changes was Drexel University ’ s commitment to working alongside the local community . “ It ’ s relationship building , essentially . Procurement ’ s not just an administrative function but also a customer service function while also being very strategic ,” Jones explains . The university is a key member of Philadelphia Anchors for Growth and Equity ( PAGE ),
FEBRUARY 2019