Flevy Management Insights Q&A
How do geopolitical events influence procurement strategies and supplier negotiations?
     Joseph Robinson    |    Procurement Negotiations


This article provides a detailed response to: How do geopolitical events influence procurement strategies and supplier negotiations? For a comprehensive understanding of Procurement Negotiations, we also include relevant case studies for further reading and links to Procurement Negotiations best practice resources.

TLDR Geopolitical events significantly impact Procurement Strategies and Supplier Negotiations by disrupting global supply chains, necessitating agile Risk Management, Strategic Sourcing, and leveraging Digital Transformation for resilience.

Reading time: 4 minutes

Before we begin, let's review some important management concepts, as they related to this question.

What does Global Supply Chains mean?
What does Strategic Procurement mean?
What does Supplier Negotiations mean?
What does Risk Management mean?


Geopolitical events have a profound impact on global supply chains, influencing procurement strategies and supplier negotiations significantly. In an era where supply chains are more interconnected than ever, a geopolitical event in one part of the world can have ripple effects across the globe, affecting the stability, cost, and availability of supplies. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for C-level executives as they navigate their organizations through uncertain times.

Impact on Global Supply Chains

Geopolitical events such as trade wars, sanctions, and regional conflicts can lead to disruptions in global supply chains. These disruptions can manifest in various forms, including increased tariffs, restrictions on the flow of goods, and the imposition of sanctions on countries or specific entities. For instance, the trade tensions between the United States and China have led to increased tariffs on billions of dollars worth of goods, prompting organizations to rethink their procurement strategies and supply chain configurations. The need to reassess supplier relationships and negotiate terms that can mitigate the impact of such tariffs becomes paramount.

Moreover, geopolitical instability can lead to fluctuations in currency values, affecting the cost of procurement. Organizations with global supply chains must remain vigilant and adaptable, employing sophisticated risk management strategies to navigate these challenges. This includes diversifying supply sources, renegotiating contracts, and leveraging currency hedging mechanisms to protect against unforeseen costs.

Another aspect to consider is the regulatory environment, which can change rapidly in response to geopolitical events. Compliance with international trade regulations, such as those enforced by the World Trade Organization (WTO), becomes a complex task that requires constant monitoring and adaptation. Organizations must ensure that their procurement practices are not only cost-effective but also compliant with the evolving regulatory landscape.

Are you familiar with Flevy? We are you shortcut to immediate value.
Flevy provides business best practices—the same as those produced by top-tier consulting firms and used by Fortune 100 companies. Our best practice business frameworks, financial models, and templates are of the same caliber as those produced by top-tier management consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, and Accenture. Most were developed by seasoned executives and consultants with 20+ years of experience.

Trusted by over 10,000+ Client Organizations
Since 2012, we have provided best practices to over 10,000 businesses and organizations of all sizes, from startups and small businesses to the Fortune 100, in over 130 countries.
AT&T GE Cisco Intel IBM Coke Dell Toyota HP Nike Samsung Microsoft Astrazeneca JP Morgan KPMG Walgreens Walmart 3M Kaiser Oracle SAP Google E&Y Volvo Bosch Merck Fedex Shell Amgen Eli Lilly Roche AIG Abbott Amazon PwC T-Mobile Broadcom Bayer Pearson Titleist ConEd Pfizer NTT Data Schwab

Strategic Procurement and Supplier Negotiations

In response to these challenges, organizations must adopt strategic procurement practices that emphasize flexibility, resilience, and risk mitigation. This involves conducting thorough risk assessments of the supply chain, identifying potential vulnerabilities, and developing contingency plans. Strategic sourcing, where procurement decisions are made based on a comprehensive understanding of the supply market, becomes critical. Organizations must evaluate suppliers not just on cost, but on their ability to withstand geopolitical pressures, ensuring continuity of supply.

Supplier negotiations are also significantly influenced by geopolitical events. In times of uncertainty, long-term contracts with fixed prices can protect organizations from sudden cost increases. However, these contracts must be negotiated with care, incorporating clauses that allow for flexibility in response to changing geopolitical landscapes. Building strong relationships with suppliers, based on mutual understanding and trust, can facilitate more effective negotiations and collaboration in addressing the challenges posed by geopolitical events.

Furthermore, leveraging technology and digital tools can enhance procurement strategies and supplier negotiations. Advanced analytics and artificial intelligence can provide organizations with real-time insights into global market trends, enabling more informed decision-making. Digital platforms can also streamline procurement processes, improve transparency, and enhance collaboration with suppliers, making the supply chain more resilient to geopolitical shocks.

Real-World Examples

One notable example of geopolitical impact is the Brexit decision, which has forced organizations across Europe to re-evaluate their supply chains and procurement strategies. The uncertainty surrounding trade agreements and tariffs between the UK and the EU has led many organizations to diversify their supplier base and renegotiate contracts to include terms that account for potential trade barriers.

Another example is the imposition of sanctions on Iran by the United States. Organizations with supply chains that were reliant on Iranian oil have had to seek alternative suppliers and negotiate new contracts to ensure compliance with US sanctions, all while managing the cost implications of these changes.

In conclusion, geopolitical events play a significant role in shaping procurement strategies and supplier negotiations. Organizations must remain agile, informed, and strategic in their approach to procurement, employing a combination of risk management, strategic sourcing, and digital transformation to navigate the complexities of the global supply chain landscape. By doing so, they can mitigate the risks associated with geopolitical instability and maintain a competitive edge in an increasingly uncertain world.

Best Practices in Procurement Negotiations

Here are best practices relevant to Procurement Negotiations from the Flevy Marketplace. View all our Procurement Negotiations materials here.

Did you know?
The average daily rate of a McKinsey consultant is $6,625 (not including expenses). The average price of a Flevy document is $65.

Explore all of our best practices in: Procurement Negotiations

Procurement Negotiations Case Studies

For a practical understanding of Procurement Negotiations, take a look at these case studies.

Operational Efficiency Strategy for Boutique Hotel Chain in Hospitality

Scenario: A boutique hotel chain, renowned for its unique customer experiences and premium service, is facing challenges with supplier negotiations, leading to increased operational costs and reduced margins.

Read Full Case Study

Strategic Procurement Negotiation for Biotech Firm in Life Sciences

Scenario: A biotech firm in the life sciences sector is grappling with the complexities of Procurement Negotiations amidst rapid technological advancements and regulatory changes.

Read Full Case Study

Strategic Supplier Negotiation for Cosmetics Industry Leader

Scenario: A firm in the cosmetics industry is grappling with margin compression, attributed to suboptimal supplier negotiation tactics and rising raw material costs.

Read Full Case Study

Supply Chain Optimization Strategy for a Logistics Firm in North America

Scenario: A leading logistics company in North America, specializing in freight and supply chain solutions, is facing strategic challenges in optimizing its procurement negotiations.

Read Full Case Study

Strategic Procurement Negotiation for Global Oil & Gas Distributor

Scenario: A leading Oil & Gas distribution company, operating internationally, faces challenges in Procurement Negotiations due to volatile market prices and complex supplier relationships.

Read Full Case Study

Strategic Procurement Negotiation for Ecommerce

Scenario: The organization is a rapidly growing ecommerce platform that specializes in direct-to-consumer sales.

Read Full Case Study




Flevy is the world's largest knowledge base of best practices.


Leverage the Experience of Experts.

Find documents of the same caliber as those used by top-tier consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, Accenture.

Download Immediately and Use.

Our PowerPoint presentations, Excel workbooks, and Word documents are completely customizable, including rebrandable.

Save Time, Effort, and Money.

Save yourself and your employees countless hours. Use that time to work on more value-added and fulfilling activities.




Read Customer Testimonials

  •  
    "As a young consulting firm, requests for input from clients vary and it's sometimes impossible to provide expert solutions across a broad spectrum of requirements. That was before I discovered Flevy.com.

    Through subscription to this invaluable site of a plethora of topics that are key and crucial to consulting, I "

    – Nishi Singh, Strategist and MD at NSP Consultants
  •  
    "Flevy.com has proven to be an invaluable resource library to our Independent Management Consultancy, supporting and enabling us to better serve our enterprise clients.

    The value derived from our [FlevyPro] subscription in terms of the business it has helped to gain far exceeds the investment made, making a subscription a no-brainer for any growing consultancy – or in-house strategy team."

    – Dean Carlton, Chief Transformation Officer, Global Village Transformations Pty Ltd.
  •  
    "As an Independent Management Consultant, I find Flevy to add great value as a source of best practices, templates and information on new trends. Flevy has matured and the quality and quantity of the library is excellent. Lastly the price charged is reasonable, creating a win-win value for "

    – Jim Schoen, Principal at FRC Group
  •  
    "One of the great discoveries that I have made for my business is the Flevy library of training materials.

    As a Lean Transformation Expert, I am always making presentations to clients on a variety of topics: Training, Transformation, Total Productive Maintenance, Culture, Coaching, Tools, Leadership Behavior, etc. Flevy "

    – Ed Kemmerling, Senior Lean Transformation Expert at PMG
  •  
    "Last Sunday morning, I was diligently working on an important presentation for a client and found myself in need of additional content and suitable templates for various types of graphics. Flevy.com proved to be a treasure trove for both content and design at a reasonable price, considering the time I "

    – M. E., Chief Commercial Officer, International Logistics Service Provider
  •  
    "FlevyPro has been a brilliant resource for me, as an independent growth consultant, to access a vast knowledge bank of presentations to support my work with clients. In terms of RoI, the value I received from the very first presentation I downloaded paid for my subscription many times over! The "

    – Roderick Cameron, Founding Partner at SGFE Ltd
  •  
    "As a consulting firm, we had been creating subject matter training materials for our people and found the excellent materials on Flevy, which saved us 100's of hours of re-creating what already exists on the Flevy materials we purchased."

    – Michael Evans, Managing Director at Newport LLC
  •  
    "Flevy is now a part of my business routine. I visit Flevy at least 3 times each month.

    Flevy has become my preferred learning source, because what it provides is practical, current, and useful in this era where the business world is being rewritten.

    In today's environment where there are so "

    – Omar Hernán Montes Parra, CEO at Quantum SFE



Download our FREE Strategy & Transformation Framework Templates

Download our free compilation of 50+ Strategy & Transformation slides and templates. Frameworks include McKinsey 7-S Strategy Model, Balanced Scorecard, Disruptive Innovation, BCG Experience Curve, and many more.