The Challenge
Every respondent to our survey reported some form of organisational support for bid management, but only half felt it was clear and adequate. The other half noted restrictions or limited backing. This pattern indicates that bid management is not universally treated as a core business function.
Without executive recognition and consistent resourcing, bid teams struggle to deliver. They lack the authority to enforce quality standards, the budget to invest in appropriate tools, and the organisational visibility needed to secure timely input from subject matter experts.
Analysis and Approach
Bid management is a function that often needs to justify its existence. In reality, companies win bids—not bid managers alone. Success requires an organised and structured approach with full organisational support. The challenge for bid professionals is often internal: demonstrating value to stakeholders who may not fully understand the complexity of the work.
Results speak for themselves. The most effective way to secure organisational backing is to win tenders and track the revenue generated. Clear metrics—win rates, pipeline value, return on bid investment—help translate bid management effort into language that executives understand.
How Athena Can Help
If your role involves championing the importance of bidding within your organisation, Athena can help you position the function internally. We provide frameworks for measuring and communicating bid team performance, helping you build the business case for sustained investment. Ultimately, we help you achieve the results that make that case for you.
Explore the Full Whitepaper
Download the complete State of Bid Management 2026 whitepaper to understand how organisations are repositioning bid management as a strategic capability: Access the Full Report





