PROCUREMENT CONTROL
Describe and compare procurement control and methods of purchase and contract control.
Give at least two examples of purchase and contract control methods in use on a project with which you are familiar, or one that you identify through research. Make sure your text includes: a clear, researched, but paraphrased definition of procurement control; techniques for purchase and contract control.
Conclude with an example of a project not currently addressing purchase and contract control, but which could benefit from that purchase and contract control.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Procurement Control and Methods of Purchase and Contract Control
In project management, procurement control plays a vital role in ensuring that acquisitions are managed effectively and efficiently. It involves overseeing the process of obtaining goods and services from external suppliers, vendors, or contractors. Procurement control is essential for maintaining project timelines, quality standards, and budget constraints.
Thesis Statement
Procurement control is crucial in project management to ensure the successful acquisition of goods and services. This essay will explore the definition of procurement control, compare it with methods of purchase and contract control, provide examples of purchase and contract control methods, and highlight the importance of implementing these controls in projects.
Definition of Procurement Control
Procurement control refers to the process of managing and regulating the acquisition of goods and services required for a project. It involves planning, sourcing, negotiating, and administering contracts with vendors to meet project objectives effectively. By implementing procurement control measures, project managers can mitigate risks, ensure compliance, and optimize costs throughout the procurement process.
Techniques for Purchase and Contract Control
1. Vendor Performance Evaluation: Regularly assessing vendor performance based on predefined criteria such as quality, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness helps in maintaining accountability and ensuring delivery as per the contract terms.
2. Contract Audits: Conducting periodic audits of contracts to verify compliance with terms and conditions, pricing agreements, and delivery schedules can help in identifying discrepancies and resolving issues promptly.
Examples of Purchase and Contract Control Methods
1. Vendor Scorecards: In a construction project I was involved in, we used vendor scorecards to rate suppliers based on their performance. This facilitated informed decision-making regarding future engagements with vendors.
2. Milestone Payments: In a software development project, milestone payments were established to link payment disbursements with the achievement of predefined project milestones. This ensured that payments were made based on the completion of deliverables as per the contract.
Importance of Purchase and Contract Control
Implementing purchase and contract control methods is crucial for projects to avoid cost overruns, delays, and quality issues. By monitoring vendor performance, conducting audits, and enforcing contract terms, project managers can enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in procurement processes.
Example of a Project Needing Purchase and Contract Control
A hypothetical scenario where a construction project lacks robust purchase and contract control methods could result in delays due to unreliable suppliers, cost overruns from unchecked expenses, and quality issues stemming from inadequate vendor oversight. By implementing vendor performance evaluations, contract audits, and structured payment milestones, this project could enhance its procurement control mechanisms, leading to improved project outcomes.
In conclusion, procurement control is a critical component of project management that ensures the successful acquisition of goods and services. By employing effective purchase and contract control methods, projects can enhance accountability, mitigate risks, and optimize costs during the procurement process. It is imperative for project managers to prioritize procurement control to achieve project success.
