COE Center of Excellence — a central team that owns strategy, tools, and best practices for the whole company.
Hybrid Model A mix of central control (strategy) and local freedom (daily buying). Like a franchise: corporate sets the menu, each store runs its own kitchen.
Operating Model How a company organizes its people and processes to get work done — who reports to whom, who makes which decisions.
Organizational Design The architecture of teams, reporting lines, and decision rights inside a company.
Maverick Spend Purchases made outside approved contracts — like employees buying from any vendor instead of using the negotiated supplier.
Causal Link A proven cause-and-effect relationship, not just a correlation. "A caused B" vs. "A and B happened at the same time."
