Supply management can best be defined as a $...$

process of planning, implementing, evaluating and controlling strategic and operating decisions to direct all the activities of the purchasing function towards opportunities that are consistent with the organisation's capabilities in order to achieve its long$-$term goals.

process of identifying, conducting negotiations with and forming supply agreements with vendors of goods and services.

strategic management process whereby commodities $($materials and services$)$ and suppliers are analysed, and relationships are formed and managed according to best practices and appropriate strategies in support of long$-$term organisational goals.

strategic process of identifying, acquiring, accessing, positioning and managing the resources that the organisation currently or