Reply to: HR and PSLs/Whinge for the day

[Board Game Geek]

More peas Norma?

One of my favourite lines from Spitting Image, thanks for the nostalgic trip Baggie.

One of the drawbacks to getting on the PSL is that I am sure some companies will exploit their position to creep up their prices, knowing they are safe and protected.

So the PSL is a blessing as well as a curse.

To be honest, it's a wonder that businesses do business with each other at all, since everyone is trying to rip everyone else off.

It's all a bit seedy really.

[Bagpuss]

Or you go to Wilkos because they are cheapest

[DodgyAgent]

An example here. One client was using an electrical installation company who they had a good relationship with. Purchasing demanded that another company be given a chance, but that company didn't even know what Cat-5
was. Let alone that the first company had a very expensive network sniffer at their disposal and knew how to use it...



You also probably know where in the store the trowels are, maybe how they deal with warranty claims and whether there's a decent cuppa to be had nearby.

And the store manager clearly knows his market which is why he keeps you.

[Sysman]

If you are happy with the service you receive from someone on your PSL, why would you go to the effort of wasting time in choosing another ?

An example here. One client was using an electrical installation company who they had a good relationship with. Purchasing demanded that another company be given a chance, but that company didn't even know what Cat-5 was. Let alone that the first company had a very expensive network sniffer at their disposal and knew how to use it...

There are probably 15 different DIY stores within 30 minutes drive of where I live. I want a trowel for the garden. Do I travel to each and every store to see the whole range of trowels, before going back to the first one ? Of course not. I go to the store that I have been to before many times, because I know what to expect and a trowel is a trowel at the end of the day.

You also probably know where in the store the trowels are, maybe how they deal with warranty claims and whether there's a decent cuppa to be had nearby.

[DodgyAgent]

If you bear with me for a moment, I believe that human beings, as creatures of habit, have our own internal PSL's.

Eg, the places we shop at, where we eat, the brands we wear, the music we buy, even the type of friends we associate with.

A PSL, in personal terms, is part of our identity and idiom.

It's not surprising therefore to see that PSL's have migrated in to the business arena, because they are a human invention that we bring with us from our personal life.

PSL's are a barrier, granted, but consider this :

If you are happy with the service you receive from someone on your PSL, why would you go to the effort of wasting time in choosing another ?

It's one thing to shop around for the best deal, but to be honest, there are so many companies offering the same thing, that it becomes counter-productive assessing each and every new potential offer.

There are probably 15 different DIY stores within 30 minutes drive of where I live. I want a trowel for the garden. Do I travel to each and every store to see the whole range of trowels, before going back to the first one ? Of course not. I go to the store that I have been to before many times, because I know what to expect and a trowel is a trowel at the end of the day.

So it is with many PSL's.

Its a good analogy, but it is called "set in your ways" and whilst we can all exercise our choice about how we think and how we behave the same does not apply to businesses. If there is something out there that will improve your competitiveness and that will give you an edge over the competition then one has to look at it.

Whilst I may be perfectly happy with my trowel, the fact that someone else unknown to me is having his gardening done free of charge by a topless Lithuanian blonde in return for a few favours, is of little material consequence.

At least part of a recruitment process should include an element of interest in the market place that continually evaluates what is happening in labour markets not just inside the UK

[Bagpuss]

If you bear with me for a moment, I believe that human beings, as creatures of habit, have our own internal PSL's.

Eg, the places we shop at, where we eat, the brands we wear, the music we buy, even the type of friends we associate with.

A PSL, in personal terms, is part of our identity and idiom.

It's not surprising therefore to see that PSL's have migrated in to the business arena, because they are a human invention that we bring with us from our personal life.

PSL's are a barrier, granted, but consider this :

If you are happy with the service you receive from someone on your PSL, why would you go to the effort of wasting time in choosing another ?

It's one thing to shop around for the best deal, but to be honest, there are so many companies offering the same thing, that it becomes counter-productive assessing each and every new potential offer.

There are probably 15 different DIY stores within 30 minutes drive of where I live. I want a trowel for the garden. Do I travel to each and every store to see the whole range of trowels, before going back to the first one ? Of course not. I go to the store that I have been to before many times, because I know what to expect and a trowel is a trowel at the end of the day.

So it is with many PSL's.

More peas Norma?

[Mich the Tester]

there are backhanders involved with getting onto a PSL...

You don't say...

[MPwannadecentincome]

PSLs are not just about recruitment, they are for the purchase of anything.

Thus, there will be a PSL for computer equipment, stationery, tea, coffee, plumbers, heating engineers etc etc etc.

They are there 'cos it gives the purchasing depts some percieved 'power' over the organisation in the name of streamlining the purchasing process, verifying quality suppliers and negotiating favourable prices etc.

It would be a great idea if it worked, but its really another big company 'lost the plot' idea, particularly evident when, as part of a small company it was bought out, the normal supplier for stationery was booted out as it was not a preferred supplier end the secretary had to pay 20% - 50% more for buying the same stuff as before.

Some people say there are backhanders involved with getting onto a PSL...

Oh and its great fun when you have to buy something that no-one on the PSL can supply!

[Board Game Geek]

If you bear with me for a moment, I believe that human beings, as creatures of habit, have our own internal PSL's.

Eg, the places we shop at, where we eat, the brands we wear, the music we buy, even the type of friends we associate with.

A PSL, in personal terms, is part of our identity and idiom.

It's not surprising therefore to see that PSL's have migrated in to the business arena, because they are a human invention that we bring with us from our personal life.

PSL's are a barrier, granted, but consider this :

If you are happy with the service you receive from someone on your PSL, why would you go to the effort of wasting time in choosing another ?

It's one thing to shop around for the best deal, but to be honest, there are so many companies offering the same thing, that it becomes counter-productive assessing each and every new potential offer.

There are probably 15 different DIY stores within 30 minutes drive of where I live. I want a trowel for the garden. Do I travel to each and every store to see the whole range of trowels, before going back to the first one ? Of course not. I go to the store that I have been to before many times, because I know what to expect and a trowel is a trowel at the end of the day.

So it is with many PSL's.

[DodgyAgent]

Confucius' rule of large organisations; he who seek logic find only convoluted nonsense.

And going for the top is not always the right approach.

[oracleslave]

Does your "rule" involve personal delivery of a message by a 30 year old bit of blond totty with all the right equipment in all the right places by any chance OS?

Hell No!

What time should I expect her? I might have a desktop position for her

[Mich the Tester]

This begs the question as to why on earth am I important enough for the MDs secretary/PA (and by proxy the MD himself), yet I am not important enough to be put through to some low life ex recruitiment consultant that couldnt hack it?

Confucius' rule of large organisations; he who seek logic find only convoluted nonsense.

[DodgyAgent]

It didn't make it past my 'rule' and is in the deleted items folder already.

HTH.

Does your "rule" involve personal delivery of a message by a 30 year old bit of blond totty with all the right equipment in all the right places by any chance OS?

[oracleslave]

I am convinced that PSLs are in place not because companies wish to aggregate their demand, and streamline their agency supplier base with the best and most suitable solutions to finding the skills they need, but to make life as easy as possible for the idiots that work in them.

Because recruitment people are so damned lazy they will not bother to investigate the merits of what is being offered but instead retreat behind the barricades of "we have a Preffered supplier list".

Now I am quite happy to accept that DA enterprises offers little or nothing that the market does not already have, and I accept no one has an obligation to engage in a conversation with me about recruitment. Anyway I call a company (big one) and ask to be put through to recruitment and I am told that they dont put agencies through. "Fine" I say. I then asked to be put through to the managing director and without any argument I am on to his PA and through her I am now communicating with the man at the top (lucky chap ). This will mean that at the very least he will cast a glance over an email that presumably should be the job of someone further ( a lot further) down the line of command.

This begs the question as to why on earth am I important enough for the MDs secretary/PA (and by proxy the MD himself), yet I am not important enough to be put through to some low life ex recruitiment consultant that couldnt hack it?

It didn't make it past my 'rule' and is in the deleted items folder already.

HTH.

[DodgyAgent]

The whole point of have Streamlined PSL and HR is to give managers more time for project work and to drive down rates. I too could implement a system that would have the same effect/benefit. I simply kill all potential candidates with that skill set therfore the manager never gets to see any expensive and suitable qualified people. I would charge a very reasonable rate for this service.

I will add that some of the HR people who are ex recruitment people are extremely good. Especially the ones that use DA