Supplier DIVERSITY a 08/07

Transcription

1 Supplier DIVERSITY a 08/07

2 CIGNA is committed to minority-, woman-owned, and diverse business enterprises. Just as when we employ a diverse workforce, partnering with a range diverse of suppliers is another way CIGNA reflects the many cultures and backgrounds of our customers.

3 Supplier Diversity It s Good Business and the Right Thing to Do Supplier diversity expands and enhances our corporate relationships and experiences, and contributes to our ability to better understand and serve our broad spectrum of customers. A diverse supplier base also helps CIGNA achieve our mission to be recognized for industry leadership and superior results. Our program is designed to engage the very best suppliers, those who share our commitment to integrity, quality, and efficiency, and will strive to support CIGNA s purchasing needs. Supplier diversity is an integral part of that equation. CIGNA believes the success of diverse businesses adds to our success and to that of the communities we serve. Minority-, woman-owned, and diverse businesses are often in neighborhoods that benefit greatly from the commerce and employment opportunities the businesses provide. What s more, our customers care about diversity: CIGNA customers recognize and appreciate when their company-of- choice reflects their own values in both hiring and business practices. Statistics show that the majority of health care purchasing decisions in the United States are made by women. Many government contracts consider diverse suppliers when evaluating CIGNA as a potential provider of services. At CIGNA, our Supplier Diversity goals are an important part of our Guiding Framework. We are confident the trust and reputation we develop through these efforts will help our company build customer and supplier relationships that last. A Strong Commitment to Supplier Diversity CIGNA has a long history of involvement in and support of supplier diversity. The foundation of CIGNA s Supplier Diversity Program dates back to the early 1970s. Today, CIGNA is a corporate member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), Women s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA). CIGNA also regularly participates in supplier fairs sponsored by these and other minority and women s organizations. 1

4 How CIGNA s Supplier Diversity Program Works CIGNA s Supplier Diversity Program is part of CIGNA s overall sourcing strategy, which includes nationally recognized and customerdriven target percentages for annual dollars spent on purchases from minority-, womenowned, and diverse businesses. Our policy is to solicit competitive bids to obtain the best value when purchasing goods and services. We pre-qualify suppliers so we always have access to a pool of businesses capable of meeting CIGNA s needs and, in turn, those of our customers. We evaluate all suppliers account for the best value, with a particular emphasis on quality, total cost, delivery, innovation, and management expertise to meet CIGNA s requirements. Corporate Services (travel, shipping, office supplies, and vehicle fleet management) Telecommunications Workforce Solutions Who is Eligible? CIGNA utilizes the federal government s designation of what constitutes minority/ woman/veteran/small/disabled veteran/ lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered owned business enterprises These are companies that are at least 51% owned, controlled, operated by and managed by, members of these groups. Minority groups include African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Indian Americans, and Asian-Pacific Americans. What We Buy With the size and scope of our operations, CIGNA has significant purchasing power. We spend more than $1 billion each year to obtain a variety of goods and services, including: Consulting Facilities Information Technology If your company meets these criteria and is interested in a potential opportunity to become a supplier to CIGNA, we want to hear from you. To have your business considered, please register your company through our supplier registration process at Once there, please click, "About Us" located at the top of the page. Choose Supplier Community, then click on Supplier Registration Process from the menu on the left. Marketing & Print 2

5 What We Provide Our Suppliers Fair and honest awarding of contracts based on quality, availability, and competitive pricing of products and services. Strong commitment to business responsibilities and timely payment of invoices. Communication consistent with managing a successful business relationship and responsible decision-making. Courteous and professional treatment. A high-quality business partner. Fair projections of future plans and requirements. Prompt responses to inquiries. What We Expect from Our Suppliers Knowledgeable, responsible, responsive, and professional sales personnel. Ethical conduct in all business arrangements. Quality processes and accurately represented products and services. Committed to Employee Diversity CIGNA s commitment to employee diversity is also clear. Our long-standing commitment to a multi-cultural and inclusive workforce is evident in the employees we recruit and hire, from diverse talent pools both within the United States and in other countries where CIGNA operates. These efforts build on CIGNA s strong foundation of good faith efforts to attract, hire, develop, promote, and retain the most qualified candidates. In addition, CIGNA is committed to diversity through our employee recruitment efforts, our mentoring initiatives, and our work/life support programs. Diversity is a key element of achieving our overall goal of sustained, profitable growth. A diverse workforce increases our understanding of and connections to the many groups with whom we work, including providers, brokers, employers, and individuals. Through an inclusive workforce, CIGNA fosters development of unique perspectives and ideas, making us better able to meet and anticipate our customers needs and strengthen our competitive edge. Innovative suggestions for improving CIGNA s competitive advantage. Accurate and prompt responses to all inquiries. 3

6 About CIGNA CIGNA has 153 offices in 98 U.S. cities, and operations in 16 countries. Our strategic focus is to be a leading health service company. This strategy builds on CIGNA s existing capabilities of medical, pharmacy, behavioral health, clinical information management, dental and vision benefits, case and disease management, and disability, life and accident products. CIGNA has a long history with deep roots that reach back centuries. Today, our focus is on helping people lead healthier, more secure lives. CIGNA s Commitment to the Communities We Serve Just as CIGNA s commitment to diversity strengthens our workforce and our business relationships, it also helps us to strengthen the communities where our people, suppliers, and customers live and work. CIGNA s Civic Affairs department and the CIGNA Foundation have created a charitable giving and community involvement program that places a high value on sharing our resources, expertise, and energy in order to improve the health and well-being of our neighbors. Our charitable giving strategy is built upon support for health-related areas of concern. One of these, elimination of gender and ethnic disparities in health care, is designed to help make sure that all of our neighbors have access to quality care. A second, patient/doctor communication and health literacy helps ensure that everyone is able to make good use of that care through a better understanding of health information. CIGNA team members reach out through our community involvement program to bring educational, career development and cultural opportunities to underserved neighborhoods. Our goal is to promotehealthier individuals, healthier families, and healthier communities. 4

7 We recognize that it s crucial to reflect our customer base and the communities where we operate as a means to promoting understanding and trust.

8 CIGNA is a registered service mark of CIGNA Intellectual Property, Inc., licensed for use by CIGNA Corporation and its operating subsidiaries. Products and services are provided exclusively by such operating subsidiaries, including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, and not by CIGNA Corporation b 05/ CIGNA