Competitiveprocurement position and orientation in the modern economic environment withspecial emphasis on the agricultural industry

Procurement management is still a branch of the economy and the real sector that is still underrepresented and unrecognized. This primarily refers to its importance and the range of knowledge and skills that a person employed in the procurement sector should have. The paper focused on the research into the focus of procurement management among small, medium, and large economic entities in the Republic of Croatia. The data were collected by means of a questionnaire, and all respondents were directly contacted and motivated to participate in the research. The goal is to show the degree of development and awareness of the purchasing activity, with a focus on competitiveness, but also to point out the differences regarding certain topics, depending on the size of the company from which the respondents come. The basic conclusion is that there is no difference in the approach to procurement orientation and, in general, the quality of procurement processes related to the selection and analysis of suppliers when the size of the company is considered. The procurement sector has proven to be very active; employees analyse their own business, look for new opportunities, and participate in the growth and development of the company in which they are employed. A limiting factor for drawing a broad conclusion is the fact that the respondents are from a narrow geographical area, but valid conclusions can be drawn. Regardless of the positive conclusions, the procurement sector should always strive for improvement and development because it never functions independently and is not an end in itself.