Insights into Strategic Sourcing: The inextricable link to Africa's long-term industrialisation, supply chain governance and economic development
Authors: Boateng Douglas 
Published: January 2025

"This is a must for all practitioners, scholars and researchers on strategic sourcing. It succinctly provides invaluable information which is logically supported by the facts. It should be the resource for all current and aspiring supply chain professionals keen to learn more about the strategic connection between sourcing, company and industrial competitiveness, service delivery quality and national and regional development." -Intaher Ambe, Professor of Supply Chain Management: School of Management Sciences, UNISA

"This Executive Insights into Strategic Sourcing is an essential and thought provoking resource for all directors, new and experienced, of government, public and private sector organisations. Not only does Professor Boateng provide insightful reflections on the role of strategic sourcing in national development, he also concisely blends research, real world data and best practices and experiences that help decision makers initiate sourcing practices for maximum long -term company and societal benefit." - Lebogang Letsoalo, Vice President, Supply Chain Management: Sasol Base Chemicals

Professor Douglas BOATENG (MSc, EngD, FCILT, FSOE, FIPlantE, FCMI, FIC, FInst. D FIOM FCIPS, FloD, CDir), Africa's first ever appointed Professor Extraordinaire for supply and value chain management (SBL UNISA), is an International Professional certified Chartered Director and an adjunct academic. Independently recognised as one of the vertical specific global strategic thinkers on procurement, governance, logistics, and industrial engineering in the context of supply and value chain management, he continues to play leading academic and industrial roles in supply chain strategy development and implementation, both in Africa, and around the world. He holds, amongst other qualifications, an Institute of Directors Graduate Certificate and Diploma in Company Direction, and a Doctor of Engineering (Warwick). He is also an elected FELLOW of Institute of Directors-UK & South Africa; Society of Operations Engineers-UK; Institution of Plant Engineers- UK; Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport-UK & South Africa; Chartered Management Institute- UK; Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply- UK; Institute of Business Consulting -UK; and the Institute of Operations Management-UK. Recognised for his outstanding contribution to the advancement of local and international aspects of supply chain management he was bestowed with a Platinum Life Time Global Achievers Award (2016) and a Life Time Achievers Award (2013) by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, and its various local industry associations. In 2016, Professor Boateng was honoured by CEO Titans Building Nations with a Life time Achievers Award for exceptional work done in the area of industrial engineering, procurement, and supply chain management in a developing world context. He has also been publicly acknowledged by leading institutions, including the Commonwealth Business Council, for his ongoing contribution to the rapidly emerging concept of strategic sourcing and its inextricable link to Africa's long-term industrialisation and socio-economic development. He has been an elected member of the UK's Institute of Directors for over 20 years, and continues to assist organisations and CEOs with board level, directional, and governance matters. In addition, Professor Boateng has been publicly acknowledged by leading institutions, including the Commonwealth Business Council, for his ongoing contribution to international procurement, supply chain development and governance, and its link to emerging world long-term socioeconomic development.