L4M6 Practice Exam Questions with Answers Supplier Relationships Certification

Explanation

ABC / Pareto is a "Portfolio Analysis Technique to assess the relationships in a supply chain". This, along with the Kraljic Matrix are two examples of "Supplier Positioning Models". See chapter 2.1 p.17 for more details on this

Explanation

The correct answer is 'arms length'. This is a tactical purchase (as it is low value) and keeping the supplier at arms-length means that Red Manufacturing could possibly exploit them to reduce their prices (think back to the Kraljic matrix and where Blue Business would likely fall). A Partnership or Single- Source relationship requires investment into the relationship, and as the products are low value and Red Manufacturing have a lot of other suppliers, they should not be investing time in developing that relationship with Blue Business. An adversarial relationship wouldn't be advantageous as it may lower the performance of the supplier. See the relationship spectrum on p.5 - this is a hot topic for the exam

Explanation

in tiered supply chains, a closer-tactical relationship could be used between a buyer and a supplier who will be responsible for co-ordinating the activities of other suppliers (p.8 of the textbook).

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

Carter's 10 Cs are a way to qualify (aka shortlist) a supplier. See p.11 for more details on this and p.10 for the stages of the relationship cycle.

Forward buying involves purchasing in advance to lock in current prices and avoid future increases. This strategy is effective in volatile markets where price hikes are anticipated.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

In Michael Porter's Value Chain model, primary activities are those that are directly involved in the creation and delivery of a product or service. These include:

Inbound Logistics:Activities related to receiving, storing, and distributing inputs internally.

Operations:Transforming inputs into the final product.

Outbound Logistics:Distributing the final product to customers.

Marketing and Sales:Activities that inform buyers about products and services, induce buyers to purchase them, and facilitate their purchase.

Service:Activities that maintain and enhance the product's value, such as customer support and repair services.

Firm infrastructure and technology development are considered support activities, as they assist the primary activities in helping the organization achieve its competitive advantage.

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘accommodating’. This QUESTION NO: is based on the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict model on p.87. This comes up quite a bit in the exam. It is comprised of 5 techniques for dealing with conflict; competing, collaborating, compromising, avoiding and accommodating. In this instance, the supplier should have a high degree of co-cooperativeness and a low degree of assertiveness as the long-term relationship is very important- more important than the outcome of the disputed invoice.

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.

Bread is a strategic item due to its high spend and critical role in daily operations. A partnership approach ensures consistent quality and reliability, aligning with strategic supplier management principles.

A partnership is the most appropriate type of relationship for high-value, long-term contracts involving strategic goods or services. This relationship allows both parties to work collaboratively toward common goals, share risks, and ensure continuity and quality over the long term. According to the CIPS L4M6 study materials, partnership relationships are encouraged where there is a high level of interdependence and shared objectives.

Partnering supports supply chain consolidation and continual improvement by fostering collaboration and shared objectives. These benefits align with the strategic goals of building resilient and efficient supply chains.

Partnership sourcing improves efficiency through cost reduction and ensures continuity of supply by fostering long-term, collaborative relationships with key suppliers, as highlighted in CIPS guidelines.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Partnering is most suitable in scenarios involving high-risk contracts, where the complexity, uncertainty, or strategic importance of the procurement necessitates close collaboration between the buyer and supplier. In such cases, a partnership allows for shared risk management, joint problem-solving, and mutual investment in achieving long-term objectives. This approach is less appropriate for low-cost, low-risk, or commoditized items where transactional relationships suffice.

Complex and technical suppliers often involve high financial risks due to the critical nature of their products. A close relationship ensures better collaboration, risk management, and value generation.

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘Building better relationships with primary stakeholders’. This is a direct quote from the start of chapter 2.2: ‘building better relationships with primary stakeholders such as employees, customers, suppliers and communities could lead to increased shareholder wealth by developing a competitive advantage’. The other three options wouldn’t give you a competitive advantage; increasing prices would do the opposite, engaging in market research won’t give you a competitive advantage unless you do something with that research such as implement a change to your business, and completing formal tenders for everything would be a waste of time and resources- there’s no need to tender for low value, low risk items. See p.80

The relationship reflects a partnership due to the strategic alignment, resource sharing, and focus on long-term growth, even without a formal contract. CIPS highlights that partnerships are based on trust and collaboration.

Legitimate reasons for contract termination under CIPS guidelines include failure to perform duties and serious breaches of contract terms. Ordering errors or changes in stakeholder needs are not valid termination grounds unless explicitly stated in the contract. This protects both parties from unjustified termination risks.

Explanation

In a 'perfect competition' there are no barriers to entry or exit, and competition is at its highest possible level. For more information on different types of market see p.40

Poor communication leads to misunderstandings, unmet expectations, and conflict, undermining partnerships. CIPS stresses the importance of transparent and regular communication to ensure alignment and success.

Explanation

The three right answers are competing, collaborating and compromising. See the Thomas Kilmann Model on p.87. There are quite a few questions on this in 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

Intense rivalry occurs when suppliers are equally balanced and face high barriers to exit, leading to aggressive competition to retain market share, as described in Porter’s Five Forces model.

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.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

A restricted market is characterized by high barriers to entry, often due to stringent government regulations and the need for substantial financial investment. These factors limit the number of new entrants, resulting in a market dominated by a few established suppliers. While existing suppliers may offer excellent services, the key defining features of a restricted market are the regulatory constraints and the significant capital required to compete.

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

This is a bottleneck supplier- refer to the Kraljic matrix on p.20; these types of supplier hold a monopoly in the marketplace and provide low-value items. There are lots of questions on Kraljic in the exam - do revise this topic and ensure you understand each of the four quadrants of the matrix

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 seven wastes (as defined by Taiichi Ohno) can be remembered as Tim Wood; transportation, inventory, motion, waiting, over-processing, over-production, defects. Some people add an S onto the end of Tim Wood to make Tim Woods (the s is for skills). In some modules of CIPS, they refer to 8 wastes and include skills, but in M6 they’ve only put the 7 on p.70.

The stages of team development as defined by Tuckman include forming, storming, norming, and performing. These stages reflect how teams evolve and mature through collaboration and problem-solving.

Understanding customer price expectations and the potential for substitute technology are critical in product development to anticipate market trends and competitive threats, aligning with risk management principles.

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

Explanation

Barriers to entry are economies of scale (in the air travel industry you can't just start off small and grow), access to capital (you need to already have a lot of money to buy airplanes) and licences and permits (you need to ensure you have the correct licences to fly planes). These are listed on p.41. Other barriers include; strong brand identity already dominant in the market, high switching costs for buyers, access to distribution networks and government policy.

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:

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

Friendly Flour Ltd is a strategic supplier; this is a critical supplier, responsible for core products. They represent a high risk impact and a high cost impact. This is the top-right hand corner of the Kraljic matrix. There are lots of questions on Kraljic in the exam - do revise this topic and ensure you understand each of the four quadrants of the matrix (see p.20)

Internal stakeholders are individuals or groups within an organization who are directly involved in its operations and decision-making processes. The finance director plays a crucial role in budgeting and financial planning, while maintenance engineers are essential for ensuring equipment functionality and efficiency. Both are integral to the organization's internal operations, as outlined in the CIPS L4M6 study materials.

The primary objective of cost modelling is to dissect and comprehend the components that constitute a supplier's pricing. By understanding the supplier's pricing strategy, the buyer can identify cost drivers, negotiate more effectively, and seek opportunities for cost savings. This approach aligns with the CIPS L4M6 guidelines, emphasizing the importance of transparency and collaboration in supplier relationships.

Partnerships emphasize collaboration, shared risks, and mutual benefits. Unlike adversarial or transactional relationships, they focus on long-term goals and joint value creation.

Selection criteria focus on the supplier’s capability and experience (e.g., method statements). Award criteria are used to evaluate and compare proposals during the tender process, such as price or environmental considerations.

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.

Explanation

This is based on a real exam question- it's looking to see if you can remember Carter's 10 Cs. These are; cash, cost, consistency, culture, clean, communication, competency, capacity, commitment and control. (p.12 in the text book)

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.

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:

In scenarios requiring specialized expertise and collaborative input, apartnering relationshipis most appropriate. This type of relationship fosters close cooperation, shared goals, and mutual trust, enabling both parties to contribute effectively to the project's success.

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).

Explanation

George should use a weighted award criteria – this will allow him to judge suppliers not only on cost, but also on the quality of their products and whether or not they can provide maintenance. For example George could weight the bids in this way; 40% cost, 30% durability of the panels and 30% maintenance costs. For more information on how weighted award criteria works see p.78

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 definition of value mapping is given on p.69 this is; ‘a process in which value is created through the elimination of waste and operational inefficiencies’. It ties into JIT / Lean.

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

The reason for outsourcing in this example is that the IT firm is an expert in their field. The requirement is complex and important and this is the reason why it is not being delivered in-house. The other answers given CAN be reasons for out-sourcing, but don't relate to this example. For a full list of reasons a company could use outsourcing see p. 4-5

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Leverage products are characterized by:

High profit impact:They significantly affect the company's bottom line.

Low supply risk:They are available from multiple suppliers, making it easy to switch if necessary.

These products often have standardized quality, and the competitive supply market allows buyers to negotiate favorable terms.

Explanation

The first step is to obtain business approval to terminate. If Senior Management don’t give approval, then the rest of the stages can’t happen and Sandra will be stuck with her current banana supplier. There’s a good diagram on p.109 detailing the steps to supplier termination.

Explanation

A product with an ‘inelastic price’ means that consumption doesn’t really depend on how much it costs. So you could increase the price of alcohol and cigarettes and people would tend to still buy them. A product with an elastic price means that a change in price would have a large affect on the number of people who bought the item. See p.95 for more details on price elasticity.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is a legal contract that establishes a confidential relationship between parties. It ensures that any sensitive information shared during the course of a partnership is not disclosed to unauthorized parties. Implementing an NDA fosters trust by providing assurance that proprietary information, trade secrets, and other confidential data are protected. This is particularly crucial in partnerships where open communication and information sharing are essential for success.

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘Sudden changes in the marketplace’ – this is a reason a buyer would be reactive. Reactive is when something happens to you and it forces you to act in a certain way. The other options would be strategic rather than reactive. P. 163

Explanation

This question is very, very similar to a real exam QUESTION NO: and is a really mean one. The CIPS study guide describes stages of team development as forming, storming, norming and performing. Of those listed in the book only forming is listed above. What the textbook fails to tell you is that some people add on two additional stages to this model which are mourning and adjourning. I strongly recommend doing some further reading on this (it’s called the Tuckman Group Development Model) as it comes up a lot in the exam and the study guide doesn’t really go into enough detail.

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘Yes- partnership sourcing can improve performance which will ultimately satisfy the end customer’. The important thing to note in this QUESTION NO: is the word ‘monopolistic’. This means that there are no alternative suppliers- so the ‘no’ options are wrong- there are no alternative suppliers and no opportunity to outsource. The other answer is incorrect as sales figures isn’t Andrew’s concern – it’s the complaints and quality of the product. Improving performance to satisfy end customers is therefore his main driver for considering a Partnership. See p. 127 for more information on Drivers of Partnership Sourcing. This comes up a lot in the exam

Explanation

Using technical jargon can lead to misunderstandings if not all parties understand the jargon. See p. 158 on communication issues

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Effective cost modelling is a process that helps in understanding the cost structure of a product or service. It involves:

Data gathering:Collecting relevant data related to materials, labor, overheads, and other cost drivers.

Analysis of facts:Evaluating the collected data to understand cost behaviors and identify areas for cost reduction.

Supplier negotiation and issuing a request for quotation are subsequent steps that may utilize the insights gained from cost modelling but are not part of the modelling process itself.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

In strategic partnerships, including a continuous improvement clause is vital. This clause commits both parties to ongoing efforts to enhance processes, reduce costs, and improve quality over time. Such a commitment ensures that the partnership remains dynamic and responsive to changes, fostering long-term collaboration and mutual benefit.

Partnerships provide access to local market knowledge, enable shared investments, and mitigate risks associated with relocation. These advantages outweigh concerns that can be managed through strong contracts and confidentiality agreements.