CAPS News - 15 April 2026

Why Well-Designed Supply Chains Still Make Poor Decisions
Even with the right processes in place, procurement decisions can still lead to inconsistent outcomes, increasing risk, and leaving value on the table.
As expectations around supplier risk, sustainability, and compliance continue to grow, many leaders are facing the same challenge: improving decision quality without adding complexity or cost. In this upcoming CAPS and W. P. Carey SCM Thought-Leaders webinar, Karen Donohue explores how behavioral operations research can address this gap. Rather than introducing new mandates or incentives, the session focuses on how small, intentional changes in how decisions are framed and executed can influence outcomes.
These shifts can improve supplier selection, strengthen risk assessments, and better align sourcing decisions with strategic priorities, all within existing processes.
You will walk away with practical ways to:

• Understand why procurement behavior can diverge from intended goals
• Apply small design changes that influence supplier risk assessments
• Use targeted nudges to shape decision-making
• Embed responsible choices into sourcing and SRM processes

If your organization is looking to improve decision consistency without adding overhead, this session offers a focused, practical approach.
Register today to join the conversation

Measuring Procurement’s Impact with the Right Metrics
If procurement cannot clearly quantify its impact, it becomes difficult to secure resources and influence decisions.
Many organizations still rely on activity-based metrics that fail to resonate with executive leadership. As expectations rise, procurement leaders are being asked to demonstrate value in terms of cost, efficiency, and business impact.
This CAPS webinar recording explores how leading organizations are turning metrics into decisions, identifying coverage and capacity gaps, and improving stakeholder conversations.
The session focuses on practical ways to align metrics with business priorities and use them to tell a clearer, more compelling value story.

How Does Your Organization Compare?
Procurement teams are often asked to deliver significant value, yet may lack visibility into how their performance compares to peers.
CAPS benchmarking data provides a clear reference point. On average, organizations generate $7.9 million in total savings per strategic sourcing FTE, while operating with approximately 75 supply management FTEs per $1B in managed spend. Each FTE manages an average of $27.4M in spend, highlighting the scale of responsibility across the function.
These benchmarks can help leaders assess whether their organization is under-resourced, overextended, or positioned to deliver more value. These metrics can also be used to support decisions around staffing, structure, and performance expectations.

Strengthen Your Procurement Organization with CAPS Metrics
Most organizations make staffing decisions without a clear benchmark, increasing the risk of under-resourcing or missed value.
Metrics such as supply management FTE per $1B in sourceable spend can provide a direct view into whether your team is properly resourced. When procurement professionals are managing significantly higher levels of spend than benchmarks, it signals both efficiency strain and untapped opportunity.
Participation in CAPS’ annual Metrics of Supply Management Survey, opening today, gives organizations access to these insights and more. Member organizations that complete the survey can benchmark cost savings, operating expenses, and team size and composition against peers, and explore interactive spend curve visuals and team performance analysis through the CAPS MoSM Dashboard.
Member participants also gain access to sector and quartile comparisons, custom data cuts, and a Procurement Health Check Benchmark report, providing a stronger foundation for decisions on headcount, structure, and investment.
To confirm participation, contact metrics@capsresearch.org.

From Reporting to Influence: The Metrics Reporting Maturity Model
Tracking metrics is not enough; the real value comes from using them to influence decisions.
The CAPS Metrics and Value Reporting Maturity Model represents the progression from department specific objectives to full alignment with stakeholder priorities and enterprise goals.
For procurement leaders looking to strengthen how they communicate value and support strategic decisions, the model provides a framework for advancing reporting capabilities and increasing organizational impact.

About the author

CAPS Research