Latest Research

Research is at the heart of what we do. With over 20 years of dedicated research into commerce and contract management, our members benefit from our latest insights, leading practices and professional development programs. 

A recent survey of our membership revealed the following insights:

Relationship & commercial maturity survey

How strong are council–supplier relationships, and what drives better commercial outcomes?

The way councils and suppliers work together has a direct impact on delivery, value for money, and public trust. But where are relationships working well, where is friction emerging, and how are governance, transparency, capability, and commercial maturity shaping results?

Through two connected surveys, we are gathering perspectives from both councils and suppliers to better understand the realities of buying, supplying, and managing goods, works, and services across Australian and New Zealand local government.

The findings will help identify the behaviours, practices, and commercial and contract management conditions that support stronger outcomes, and will inform a report to be released later this year.

Australian Voice of CouncilAustralian Voice of Supplier

New Zealand Voice of CouncilNew Zealand Voice of Supplier

2026 Most Negotiated Terms

Where do negotiations really get stuck and why?

The contracting landscape is transforming at unprecedented speed, driven by relentless market uncertainty and the accelerating influence of AI. But what does this mean for the heart of our work – what we negotiate and how we negotiate it?

Are certain contract terms gaining critical importance while others become flashpoints for disagreement? How are negotiation dynamics shifting, and where are the new pressure points emerging?

The 2026 Most Negotiated Terms survey will deliver the insights and answers you need, revealing not just what's changing, but how to adapt.

Begin the survey

How does your salary compare? Where are the best opportunities and the greatest rewards?

Research shows that Commercial and Contract Management roles are receiving increased executive attention. As the leading professional association in this field, employers and practitioners turn to us for the latest data on salaries and compensation packages. We are therefore inviting you to take part in our confidential annual Salary Survey.

Our survey will reveal the job roles and industries where satisfaction is highest, and it will also confirm any existing international variations. The data will be released to all participants as a consolidated report.

Contracting for Social Value

How does social value move from policy ambition to real contract outcomes? The Contracting for Social Value surveys bring together perspectives from both public sector organizations and suppliers to explore how social value is understood, embedded, and delivered through public sector procurement and contracting. Together, they examine the full lifecycle, from policy intent and procurement design through to contract terms, supplier engagement, delivery, monitoring, and performance management.

The surveys consider how clearly social value requirements are defined, how achievable they are in practice, and how organizations balance ambition with commercial and delivery realities. It also examines the roles of governance, capability, incentives, collaboration, and risk allocation in shaping outcomes, alongside real-world examples of success, challenges, and lessons learned.

By capturing insight from both buyers and suppliers, these surveys will provide a more balanced view of current practice and help identify the conditions needed for social value to deliver genuine, measurable impact for communities, society, and the environment.

Public Sector survey

Supplier survey

Sustainability: Retreat, refocus, or reinvention

This confidential survey explores how sustainability priorities and practices are evolving in commercial and contracting activity, particularly in light of economic, geopolitical, and regulatory pressures. What the report aims to cover:

• Whether different aspects of sustainability have retreated, continued to make progress, or matured into BAU
• How far it has shifted from societal ambition to organisational self-interest
• Whether regulatory fragmentation, uncertainty, and roll-back is diluting impact
• Where contracts and commercial decisions are supporting or lagging behind stated intent
• How motivation differs by industry, geography, and role

State of Agile in Procurement & Supply 

Volatile and unpredictable market conditions demand new levels of adaptability — within organizations and across their boundaries. More agile ways of working are clearly part of the answer, but for many, a key challenge remains:

Value in Procurement & Supply often gets stuck because of organizational silos and complex operating models.
This annual survey examines the current State of Agile in Procurement & Supply, with a special focus on the extent to which organizations are: breaking down silos between Procurement, Legal, Finance, IT, and delivery teams; enabling faster collaboration & co-innovation with suppliers and partners; scaling AI-driven value end-to-end

The survey will contribute to a report providing a global benchmark of progress, direction, and the most effective methods in practice.