When a supply manager conducts due diligence from cost, cultural, and service perspectives to weigh the benefits and risks of outsourcing, they are primarily engaging in analytical problem solving. This involves:
* Project management: Overseeing projects and ensuring they are completed on time and within budget, which is not the primary focus here.
* Technical knowledge: Understanding specific technical aspects, which may be part of the analysis but not the primary skill.
* Analytical problem solving: Evaluating different facets such as cost, culture, and service to make informed decisions about outsourcing.
* Functional interaction: Collaborating across different functions, which is necessary but not the core skill in this context.
Thus, the skills being employed are best described as analytical problem solving.
References:
* Supply chain management literature on due diligence and risk analysis.
* Analytical methods in decision-making.