Free Practice Questions for CIPS L4M6 Exam

Explanation

This is one of those questions you have to read carefully- it asks for 'elements of a business'. Cost focus and cost leadership are ways a company can improve their competitive advantage, but they're not elements of a business. The other three options are. Porter created a list of elements of a business that can help a company's competitive advantage- these can be found on p.33-34

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.

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘They are hard to measure’ p.103

Explanation

STEEPLE is what is used to analyse the macro-environment; the factors are; social, technological, economic, environmental, political, legislative and ethical. Details of this can be found on p.43-44

Explanation

The correct answer is “A mechanism for performance management where the buyer has the right to deduct money from payments owed for under performance”. A definition is provided on p.113 and states “If a supplier fails to meet the standard set in the service credits, the buyer has the right to deduct set amounts of money from payments owed to the supplier”

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).

Partnership arrangements promote shared responsibility and joint ownership of outcomes. CIPS highlights that partnerships typically involve:

Shared risks and rewards

Joint performance measurement

Continuous performance review

Collaborative problem resolution

Traditional contracts often place risk entirely on the supplier, rely on adversarial pricing, and use infrequent reviews. Therefore, risk sharing is a defining feature of a partnership.

L4M6 Reference:

Learning Outcome 3: Understand approaches to managing supplier relationships

Topic: Partnership characteristics and governance

CIPS L4M6 Study Guide – Risk allocation and collaboration

Explanation

This is a threat of a new entrant. The competitor has now entered the washing machine market and is competing directly with you. This is not a threat of substitution as it is the same product. A substitution would be if they invented a new product that washed clothes and people started buying this instead of washing machines. There are many questions in the exam on Porter's 5 Forces - see p. 39

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

In the Kraljic Matrix, a 'Bottleneck' item is characterized by low financial impact but high supply risk. These items may be sourced from a limited number of suppliers or involve complex logistics, making them susceptible to supply disruptions. Managing bottleneck items requires strategies focused on risk mitigation, such as developing alternative suppliers or holding strategic stock reserves.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Partnership sourcing is most appropriate for products that are critical to the buyer's business, involve high spend, and are technically complex or require innovation. The chocolate brownie cake is the company's most popular product, indicating high sales volume and strategic importance. Establishing a partnership with suppliers for this product can lead to benefits such as improved quality, innovation, and supply chain efficiency.