Practice Free L4M6 Supplier Relationships Exam Questions Answers With Explanation

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘keep satisfied’ because the stakeholder is high power and low interest. This is the top left corner of Mendelow’s Stakeholder Matrix – see p.81

Cost modeling helps in understanding supplier pricing strategies, identifying cost drivers, and opportunities for negotiation or cost reduction, which supports profitability improvements.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Partnership sourcing is a strategic approach that emphasizes long-term collaboration between buyers and suppliers to achieve mutual benefits. While achieving a competitive acquisition cost is a component, it is not the sole objective. Partnership sourcing also focuses on:

Quality Improvement:Ensuring that products or services meet or exceed quality standards.

Innovation:Collaborating on new product development and process improvements.

Risk Management:Sharing information to anticipate and mitigate risks.

Supply Chain Efficiency:Streamlining processes to reduce lead times and inventory levels.

Therefore, while cost is important, partnership sourcing encompasses a broader range of objectives aimed at creating value for both parties.

Confidentiality is critical in professional relationships, especially for law firms, as they handle sensitive client information. Ensuring that all legal obligations to protect this information are met aligns with ethical and legal best practices.

Explanation

CPV codes help suppliers find opportunities they can bid for. CPV codes are a numerical classification for products e.g. Strawberry Jam is 15332296 and when they are included on a Tender, any supplier who is registered with that same CPV code will get a notification that the tender is live. CPV codes arediscussed on p.72 but not in much detail- so don’t worry if you don’t know much about them. So long as you know the above, you’ll be fine.

Explanation

The correct answer is Measurable, achievable and relevant. This is from SMART KPIs on p. 151. Smart stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound. In the exam they come up in different orders so be careful.

Explanation

Two invalid reasons are; one late delivery and a change in senior management. Valid reasons to terminate a relationship are listed on p.107 and include the three listed here, as well as a material breach, damage to reputation and the supplier merges or is acquired by another company.

Price management is crucial for low-cost retailers to maintain profitability. This includes negotiating better pricing, managing costs effectively, and ensuring competitive pricing for volume sales.

An amicable approach is critical when alternative suppliers are limited or when ongoing collaboration is required during the termination period. Maintaining positive relations ensures smooth operations and protects reputations in the marketplace.

Explanation

The three Es are; Effectiveness, Efficiency and Economy. Sometimes a 4th E is added which is Equity (but this is mainly for the public sector).

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘The product is easy to source elsewhere’. The other three are given as reasons a marketplace might be restricted on p.138. Other reasons also include; brand loyalty, difficult access to distribution channels, and companies colluding.

Supplier pre-qualification is used to assess the suitability, capacity, and stability of suppliers before awarding contracts. While financial stability is important, CIPS emphasizes that it is not the only factor. Other considerations include technical capability, quality assurance, compliance with legislation, and sustainability of supply. Profitability ratios alone cannot determine suitability.

Explanation

The correct answer is power, role and person. This is part of Hardyman's Cultural Types on p.169 (there are four- the other one is task). There's quite a few questions on this in the exam, so it's worth doing some additional research on this prior to the exam as the study guide doesn't provide much detail on this.

Early engagement with the whole market is crucial when entering a new technical domain. It allows the company to assess the capabilities, innovations, and fit of various suppliers before locking down specifications. CIPS guidance emphasizes the value of market engagement in developing effective specifications and selecting the right partner.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

The supplier relationship lifecycle comprises several stages that outline the progression of the buyer-supplier relationship. One of these stages isMeasuring, which involves assessing the supplier's performance against agreed-upon metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs). This stage is crucial for ensuring that the supplier meets the organization's expectations and for identifying areas for improvement.

Adding value involves enhancing customer experience through excellent service, providing differentiated product features, and offering convenience. These align with procurement strategies aimed at driving customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Explanation

The correct answer is both the supplier and the buyer- joint decision making is a key aspect of partnership relationships. A project steering committee decides on priorities, suggests improvements, conducts audits etc. See p.152

Cost leadership (Porter’s generic strategy) is often referred to as a “no-frills” approach, where the organisation focuses on reducing costs and offering competitive prices across a broad scope. The aim is to become the lowest-cost producer while maintaining acceptable quality.

The relationship qualifies as a partnership due to their collaboration, shared investments, and mutual efforts toward improvement, regardless of the absence of formal contracts. Partnerships focus on shared goals, trust, and strategic alignment rather than mere documentation.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

The Kraljic Matrix is a strategic tool used to segment the supply base and develop differentiated purchasing strategies based on two key dimensions:

Profit Impact (Level of Spend):This refers to the financial significance of the item or service to the organization. High expenditure items have a greater impact on profitability and thus require more strategic sourcing approaches.

Supply Risk (Market Structure):This pertains to the complexity and dynamics of the supply market, including factors like the number of suppliers, market competitiveness, and potential for supply disruptions. Understanding the market structure helps in assessing the risk associated with sourcing particular items.

By analyzing these two factors, organizations can categorize their purchases into four quadrants—non-critical, leverage, bottleneck, and strategic items—and tailor their sourcing strategies accordingly.

Regular reviews focusing on lessons learned and continuous improvement ensure the partnership remains effective and aligned with objectives. This supports ongoing collaboration and operational excellence.

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘Reduced waste in the supply chain’ – this is not a risk, this is a benefit P.134

Setting minimum standards helps filter suppliers efficiently, ensuring that only capable and reliable suppliers are considered. This approach supports both cost and quality objectives.

Explanation

It can be difficult for buyers in the private sector to build relationships with suppliers because of rules that state competitive tenders must be undertaken every few years (within the EU this is usually every 4). This means that both parties aren’t as invested in developing the relationship as it’s possible the contact will end shortly. Competitive tendering is a requirement in the public sector to ensure value for money for taxpayers. See p.79 for further details. There are no rules stating Public Sector organisations can’t have good relationships with suppliers, and in fact most will have good relationships with their current suppliers- the issue is that neither party can get too invested in the relationship as everyone knows it may end shortly. There are rules, however, against entering into Partnership relationships (which is discussed in chapter 3).

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

For high-value and high-risk contracts, such as facilities management services for multiple schools,competitive tenderingis the most appropriate sourcing approach. This process involves inviting multiple suppliers to submit bids, ensuring transparency, fairness, and the opportunity to assess various proposals to select the most suitable supplier. It helps in mitigating risks and achieving value for money.

Explanation

You would expect a supplier to submit full pricing information, risk assessments and method statements. However, depending on what you’re procuring, you might not need to see risk assessments or method statements. Liquidity and Gearing may be looked at during the Pre-Qualification stage, but wouldn’t form part of a RFP. See p.76

Contracts are normally terminated when their obligations have been fulfilled. Termination due to one late delivery or management changes would be unreasonable unless specified in the contract. Trading with other parties is common unless exclusivity clauses exist.

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘Yes-partnerships do not have end dates because they involve significant investment’. This is explained on p.126. Partnerships can involve contracts – so the other ‘yes’ answer is incorrect.

Explanation

Open Tender processes are a one-stage process which issues and ITT. It has no PQQ (selection) stage. P. 77

Explanation

A PIN is a ‘prior information notice’ – it is sent out before the ITT to let suppliers know that an opportunity is coming up and they should look out for it. See p 72 “supplier identification- public sector” for more details.

In IT consultancy contracts, the ownership and control of data, systems, and intellectual property rights (IPR) are critical. If the hospital terminates the supplier relationship, it must ensure continued access to patient records and payroll systems. Confidentiality and service quality are important, but IPR is the priority legal concern.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Succession issues pertain to the challenges associated with ensuring the uninterrupted supply of goods or services when transitioning from one supplier to another. Continuity of supplies is a primary concern, as any disruption can impact operations, customer satisfaction, and revenue. Effective succession planning involves:

Identifying Alternative Suppliers:Ensuring that backup suppliers are in place and capable of meeting requirements.

Knowledge Transfer:Facilitating the transfer of critical information and processes to new suppliers.

Inventory Management:Maintaining adequate stock levels during the transition period.

Other options listed, such as processing penalties, deletion of old specifications, and payment of old invoices, are administrative tasks that, while important, do not directly relate to succession planning.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

In the Supplier Preferencing Model, customers are categorized based on their attractiveness and value to the supplier. A "Nuisance" customer is characterized by low profitability and high maintenance, often requiring disproportionate resources relative to the benefits they provide. Such customers may be deprioritized or even considered for discontinuation by the supplier.

Explanation

The correct answers are; They are likely to be able to gain price stability and There may be greater continuity of supply. The other options are an advantage for the supplier rather than the buyer (They will gain an increased volume of business) and a disadvantage of entering into a partnership (The supplier may become complacent). As you may have guessed from these questions – Partnerships come up a LOT in the exam. See p.130 for info on pros and cons of partnerships.

Explanation

Using an external supplier always comes with increased risk, as you become dependant upon them, and have less control over their performance (compared to an in-house team). In this example Harry will have the increased risk that the contract cleaners turn up late to their shifts, or don't do a good job. However, there is no reason to believe that the supplier will not perform as well as an internal team- we don't have enough information from the QUESTION NO: for this to be true. What is true is the RISK isgreater. The other answers are incorrect; the QUESTION NO: doesn't indicate whether outsourcing the cleaning will be more or less expensive for Harry. Allowing staff to focus on other areas is an advantage not a disadvantage. See p.4 for more information on 'External Suppliers'

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Effective conflict resolution involves:

Individual Meetings:Understanding the root cause of the conflict by discussing with each individual separately to determine if issues are personal or work-related.

Joint Meetings with Mutual Targets:Bringing the individuals together to set mutual goals can foster collaboration and reduce friction.

Avoiding the issue (Option D) or moving a team member (Option C) are not proactive solutions and may not address the underlying problem.

A restricted marketplace is one where barriers to entry limit the number of suppliers. In L4M6, CIPS identifies two key causes:

Heavy regulation and legislative controls (e.g. medical gases require safety, licensing, and compliance approvals)

High capital investment requirements, such as specialised equipment, infrastructure, and certification

Offering excellent services or having many suppliers does not restrict a market; these indicate competitive or mature markets.

Therefore, the correct combination is 1 and 4 only.

L4M6 Reference:

Learning Outcome 1: Understand market structures and supplier positioning

Topic: Market types and barriers to entry

CIPS L4M6 Study Guide – Restricted and monopolistic markets

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘An unexpected incident has occurred beyond anyone’s control’. A good example of this would be the Covid-19 pandemic- neither the buyer nor supplier could have predicted this, and if this means that the contract can’t be completed – then the contract can be terminated (in the UK at least). A way to avoid this would be to include a Force Majeur clause listing possible circumstances that could occur. When there’s a Force Majeur clause, these eventualities are now classed as foreseen rather than unforeseen. See p.108

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘Yes- IPR is a valid concern for both parties but will survive the termination of the agreement’ (p.112). See the section on ‘Legal considerations’ in chapter 2.4

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘They may gain an increased volume of business’. The other options are just not true. See p.130 for advantages and disadvantages of partnerships from both the buyer and supplier’s perspective. This is a hot topic for the exam.

Explanation

CIPS state the following reasons for the end of supplier relationships; the contract comes to a natural end, the contract is re-tendered, a material breach or the supplier becomes insolvent (p.15) In this case the only valid option is 'the contract has ended'.

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘The Matrix doesn’t consider whether the stakeholder is for or against the activity’. For a list of other limitations of using Mendelow’s Stakeholder Matrix see p.82

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘greater creativity’. A synergy is the concept that the value and performance of two companies combined will be greater than the sum of the separate individual parts. P.160

Partnership sourcing is suitable for products that contribute to the buying organization's unique selling point (USP) and for critical products on which key customers depend. This approach ensures strategic alignment and mutual benefits for both parties, focusing on collaboration rather than cost alone.

Explanation

Value for money is not a principle of EU procurement. The four key principles are; transparency, non-discrimination, proportionality and equality of treatment. The principles are basically about ensuring the procurement process is fair. See p.75

Leverage products are characterized by high spend and low complexity, giving buyers the ability to negotiate favorable terms due to supplier competition and standardization.

Explanation

Victoria should use a ‘request for proposal’ – this allows the security firms to submit ideas on how best to serve the hotel. They might come up with some ideas that Victoria hasn’t thought about and can price against their own ideas. As Victoria doesn’t have a concrete specification, an ITT or RFQ are not appropriate. A PIN tells suppliers that a tender opportunity is coming up and is used in the Public Sector. A hotel is not a Public Sector organisation. See p.76 for more information on when to issue a Request for Proposal

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Partnerships between buyers and suppliers are often driven by:

High Spend:Significant expenditure justifies the investment in developing a closer relationship to achieve cost savings and efficiencies.

Critical Products:Items that are essential to the buyer's operations necessitate a reliable and collaborative supplier relationship.

Technical Complexity:Complex products benefit from joint development efforts, shared expertise, and coordinated problem-solving.

Conversely, commodities and markets with many suppliers typically lend themselves to transactional relationships rather than partnerships.

High expenditure levels and the complexity of requirements justify partnership sourcing, as it allows for collaborative problem-solving, innovation, and cost-efficiency. CIPS emphasizes that partnerships are ideal when requirements are complex and require expertise from the supplier.

If the market has few suppliers, an open tender is not appropriate, as it adds unnecessary time and cost. Instead, a restricted or negotiated procedure is more effective. Open tendering is best used in highly competitive markets.

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘Yes- joint innovation projects are often a strong motivation for entering into a partnership’. The other options are simply not true statements. A lot of the questions on the ‘Partnerships’ chapters of the book are common-sense questions like this. It involves reading the QUESTION NO: and using logic, rather that relying on your knowledge of procurement. If you found this QUESTION NO: easy – that’s a good sign for the exam.

Explanation

Unrestricted is not a type of tender. The 5 types are; open, restricted, competitive with negotiation, competitive dialogue and innovative partnership (though this last one is very rare in the public sector). The five types are explained in detail on p.77

Strategic suppliers are those that are critical to business continuity and risk management. CIPS states that such suppliers require:

Long-term commitment

High levels of trust

Joint planning and collaboration

Given the impact on patient safety and service continuity, a partnership sourcing relationship is appropriate, enabling shared responsibility, performance management, and continuous improvement.

Transactional or competitive sourcing would not provide the stability required.

L4M6 Reference:

Learning Outcome 3: Understand supplier relationship strategies

Topic: Strategic suppliers and partnerships

CIPS L4M6 Study Guide – Supplier segmentation and SRM

Explanation

This is an example of poor-communication. The information was not passed from the person who signed the contract to the staff on site who were to do the cleaning. See p.158 on communication issues.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

For one-off, low-value purchases that are readily available from multiple suppliers, anadversarialrelationship is often appropriate. This type of relationship is transactional, with minimal collaboration or long-term commitment. The focus is on obtaining the best price and terms for a specific purchase without investing in developing a deeper relationship.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Collaborative partnering relationships are characterized by high levels of trust, mutual objectives, shared information, and long-term commitment. Among the options provided:

Co-destiny: This represents the highest level of collaboration, where both parties' futures are closely linked, and decisions are made jointly for mutual benefit.

Strategic alliance: This involves a formal agreement between organizations to pursue shared objectives while remaining independent entities.

These relationship types are positioned on the collaborative end of the relationship spectrum, emphasizing joint efforts and shared success.

Explanation

This question refers to Porter's Value Chain (p.35). There's a couple of questions on this in the exam so try to learn it. Procurement is a 'support activity' on this matrix along with firm infrastructure, HR and technology development

Explanation

The portable CD player has been replaced with a substitute product. This threat wasn't considered by the company and this resulted in poor sales. There are many questions in the exam on Porter's 5 Forces - see p. 39

Explanation

The Handfield ESI model is on p.98 and comprises of Black Box, Grey Box, White Box and None. Therefore Red and Blue can be automatically discounted. The correct answer is White Box as the definition given is correct. Grey Box is a formalised supplier integration; joint development activity between buyer and supplier. I have no idea why Handfield calls his system after coloured boxes- but it’s only briefly mentioned in the study guide and is not likely to be a big topic in the exam.

Explanation

The 5 Rights of procurement are; place, quality, quantity, time, price. (Price and Cost are not the same thing). See p.38

Explanation

Partnerships require the most investment out of those listed. The only relationship type that requires more investment than Partnerships is Co-Destiny. See p.9 for more information on this

Explanation

Pareto is the 80:20 rule- this can be adapted to talk about supplier relationships, where instead of having 2 categories there are now 3 (A B and C). CIPS use the terms Pareto and ABC interchangeably. See p.16 for further information

Partnerships require careful planning, including alignment of goals, stakeholder involvement, and clear expectations. Poor planning leads to unmet objectives and lack of value generation, as highlighted by CIPS.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

The described relationship includes:

Joint Product Development:Collaborative involvement in strategic projects indicates a deep partnership.

Integrated Systems:JIT delivery systems require synchronized operations, reflecting significant integration.

These elements are hallmarks of a significant integration partnership.

Explanation

They could outsource cleaning and facilities management. These are auxiliary services. The manufacturing of bike parts is their 'core' business so they should retain this in-house

Economic factors such as unemployment rates affect labor availability, wages, and consumer purchasing power, directly impacting business operations and supply chains.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Therelationship spectrumin procurement outlines the range of relationships between buyers and suppliers, from transactional to strategic partnerships. Key types include:

Transactional:Short-term, price-focused relationships with minimal collaboration.

Partnership:Long-term, collaborative relationships with shared goals and mutual benefits.

While "contractual" refers to the legal agreement aspect of relationships, it is not a specific type on the relationship spectrum. "Conspiratorial" is not a recognized relationship type in procurement contexts.

Using Kraljic’s Portfolio Matrix, CIPS classifies items based on:

Financial impact

Supply risk

Engines have:

High financial value

High supply risk, as production cannot proceed without them

This places the supplier firmly in the strategic quadrant, requiring close relationship management, risk mitigation, and long-term collaboration.

L4M6 Reference:

Learning Outcome 2: Understand supply positioning and risk

Topic: Kraljic portfolio analysis

CIPS L4M6 Study Guide – Strategic items and supplier relationships

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘Strong levels of trust and honest communication’. The questions on Partnership in the exam tend to be quite straightforward, but if you’re struggling with this see p. 148 for further details of behaviour in Partnerships.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Obtaining multiple quotations for contracts over a certain value ensures that the organization assesses various options, promoting competition and transparency. This practice helps in achieving value for money by comparing different suppliers' offerings.

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘No- a reverse e-auction would be more suitable as it will secure the lowest price’. An E-auction is something like eBay- where bids go up in price. If David wants to secure a lower price, he should use a Reverse E-Auction- where suppliers bid lower than the previous bid in order to win. For example, Supplier 1 offers to fulfil the contract at £50k per year, Supplier 2 can offer to beat this price by bidding £48k per year. Although Reverse E-Auctions may ensure cheaper prices, there are a lot of disadvantages to using this method. See p.21 and p.76 for more information

Explanation

CPV stands for Common Procurement Vocabulary. This is explained briefly on p.72 but it doesn’t really go into much detail as to what CPVs are or how they work. CPVs are a string of numbers which refer to an object that is being procured. For example the CPV for Fire Doors is 44221220. When a Tender gets advertised for Fire Doors, it will have this CPV code on, and any suppliers who provide fire doors will get a notification if they have this CPV code on their profile. It’s basically a code that links suppliers with tender opportunities.

The relationship spectrum describes the range of possible supplier relationship types, from arm’s-length transactional relationships to strategic partnerships.

CIPS explains that buyers should segment their supplier base and apply the most appropriate relationship type to:

Maximise value

Manage risk

Allocate resources effectively

The other options describe activities or tools, not the concept of classifying supplier relationships.

L4M6 Reference:

Learning Outcome 3: Understand approaches to managing supplier relationships

Topic: Relationship spectrum and supplier segmentation

CIPS L4M6 Study Guide – Supplier relationship models