Does an apparent lack of transparency provide enough of a reason to stop using the NIGP Code?

The NIGP’s continuing refusal to turn over what I will call the #CodeGate audit – I refer to it as this because it appears that Procurement Insights’ coverage played a large part in the document’s creation – raises an interesting question.

Should the apparent lack of transparency on the part of the NIGP cause enough of a concern regarding the Code’s management, to warrant a transition to a new public sector taxonomy?

For example, and as reported in this blog, Hawaii made the decision to move to the NAICS code last August, why shouldn’t others follow? By the way, I did put in a call to Sarah Allen, who is the State’s Procurement Administrator, asking for an update on how the transition went. I will let you know what she had to say when I hear back.

The above being noted, and putting aside for a moment the purported complexity associated with making the change, as well as the reported loss of historic data, the real issues may very well be ones of vulnerability and values.

Vulnerability in that who is to say that another Missouri would not happen again in the future, and values, in that how can one teach and preach transparency and professional conduct, if they themselves do not practice it. With the latter I am of course talking about the NIGP’s pervasive role in educating and certifying public sector procurement professionals.

Somewhere along the line, if procurement is to gain true creditability and its coveted seat at the executive table, the profession has to demonstrate a non-conflicted moral high ground, that builds both trust and confidence. Simply following the route of convenience and familiarity will not carry the day.

Based on what we have learned over the past 18 months, I am not sure that the NIGP is one of the organizations who can legitimately carry the industry banner for the advancement of our profession. At least not until it practices what it preaches.

What do you think?

In the meantime, and with thanks to organizations such as The First Amendment Foundation, we are now pursuing multiple avenues through which we can hopefully obtain a copy of the #CodeGate audit.

I will keep you posted on our progress.

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