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CIPS L4M4 Ethical and Responsible Sourcing Exam Practice Test

Demo: 65 questions
Total 217 questions

Ethical and Responsible Sourcing Questions and Answers

Question 1

The procurement manager has received the following data from the supplier's accounts to facilitate the calculation of the supplier's current ratio:

Current Assets: Stock $200; Debtors $60; Cash $40; Total $300

Short Term Liabilities: Bank overdraft $150

Which calculation will the procurement manager use to find out the current ratio?

Options:

A.

300÷200×150300 ÷ 200 × 150300÷200×150

B.

300÷150300 ÷ 150300÷150

C.

(300−150)×100(300 - 150) × 100(300−150)×100

D.

(300−200−150)×100(300 - 200 - 150) × 100(300−200−150)×100

Question 2

The balance sheet (Statement of Financial Position) is one of the financial statements used in providing important information required in determining the supplier's financial stability. The balance sheet contains information on such items as...

Options:

A.

Cash receipts from customers

B.

Capital employed, operating expenses, and net profit

C.

Liquidity ratios, return on capital employed, and gearing

D.

Short-term liabilities (unpaid taxes and bank overdraft)

Question 3

Azram is a facilities category buyer within the UK police force and is managing an overseas sourcing project for police uniform and personal protective equipment. Azram is of the opinion that international sourcing will help deliver much-needed financial savings, which can be utilized in other areas of the UK police force. Azram is aware that exchange rate fluctuations can create risk for his organisation. How can Azram remove this risk?

Options:

A.

Evaluate international supplier’s financial accounts

B.

Carry out a competitive tender exercise

C.

Request to use the exchange rate applicable at the time of delivery

D.

Ask suppliers to quote in GBP Sterling

Question 4

Many organisations prefer a multi-sourcing approach because of the advantages it provides. Which of the following might be an advantage of multi-sourcing?

Options:

A.

It is the only approach that supports the open tendering process

B.

It is the only approach that enables the buyer to isolate the best supplier from among many

C.

It helps the buyer to increase stock varieties to avoid stock-outs

D.

It increases process flexibility and switching using a range of approved suppliers

Question 5

An organisation wants to measure its Triple Bottom Line. Which of the following should be considered to help achieve this goal?

Options:

A.

Quality and lead time and performance

B.

Innovation and creativity performance

C.

Financial and environmental performance

D.

Procedure and process performance

Question 6

Incoterms are designed to be understood and interpreted on a worldwide basis. What is the interpretation for FOB (Free on Board)?

Options:

A.

The buyer takes responsibility for the goods after they are loaded on the ship, plus all subsequent costs, including freight charges

B.

The buyer takes responsibility for the goods after they are loaded on the ship, plus subsequent costs, excluding freight charges

C.

The buyer takes responsibility for taking the goods from the departure quayside to the ship, plus all subsequent costs

D.

The buyer takes responsibility for transferring the goods from the seller's premises to the ship, plus all subsequent costs

Question 7

The sourcing process is considered to include the initial stages of the generic procurement cycle, up to the stage where the contract is awarded to the successful bidder. The stages in the sourcing process may include ...

Options:

A.

Comparing the supplier’s delivery note with the purchase order to confirm the specification

B.

Reminding the design manager to approve the drawings which will accompany the invitation to tender documents

C.

Processing the requisitions to facilitate call-offs against a newly created framework contract

D.

Engaging with suppliers to ensure that they are achieving the KPIs set in the contract

Question 8

Which of the following are primary sources of data? Select TWO.

Options:

A.

market reasearch commissioned by a rival company

B.

economic indices such as PPI or CPI

C.

published price lists

D.

trade fairs and exibits

E.

phone calls with current suppliers

Question 9

An organisation wants to measure its Triple Bottom Line. Which of the following should be considered to help achieve this goal?

Options:

A.

Quality and lead time and performance

B.

Innovation and creativity performance

C.

Financial and environmental performance

D.

Procedure and process performance

Question 10

What type of relationship should a buyer seek when making strategic sourcing for their business?

Options:

A.

transactional

B.

collaborative

C.

arms-length

D.

partnership

Question 11

A company's balance sheet will show you which of the following?

Options:

A.

revenue, profit and expenses

B.

equity, assets and liabilities

C.

cash coming in and out of the business

D.

profit, loss and assets

Question 12

Which of the following are signs that modern-day slavery might be taking place within the supply chain? Select THREE.

Options:

A.

suspiciously low labour costs

B.

poor quality products

C.

workers that live on-site

D.

suppliers who speak English as a second language

E.

supplier based in a country with a low score on the Corruption Perception Index

Question 13

Single sourcing is only used by buyers where the total requirement is too small to justify splitting orders among more suppliers. Is this statement correct?

Options:

A.

No, because single sourcing should only be used where there is just one supplier in the market

B.

Yes, because many suppliers tend to increase stock variety and stock proliferation

C.

No, because single sourcing may also be used when a requirement demands expensive set-up costs

D.

Yes, because single sourcing works well within a volatile supply environment

Question 14

The use of Incoterms will eliminate all risks involved in international trade transactions. Is this statement true?

Options:

A.

No, they can reduce risks but will not eliminate them

B.

No, they will only provide assurance about the quality of goods

C.

Yes, they are popular because all risks are avoided

D.

Yes, they eliminate all the risks of buying from an overseas supplier

Question 15

Which of the following factors are typically considered when assessing a supplier's financial capacity?

Options:

A.

The supplier’s profitability and asset levels

B.

The price quoted in the request for quotation

C.

The supplier’s costing methods and markup percentage

D.

The supplier’s compliance with regulations for minimum wages

Question 16

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) publish a list of commercial rules known as Inco-terms. What is the purpose of these rules?

Options:

A.

to state which products can be exported from which countries

B.

to ensure buyers and suppliers pay the correct level of tax on imported and exported goods

C.

to describe the point at which an item is considered delivered

D.

to provide internationally recognized product descriptions

Question 17

Which of the following should be assessed in supplier proposals to check compliance with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards? Select THREE that apply.

Options:

A.

The company's criteria for make or buy decisions

B.

The financial stability of the company

C.

Procedures on intra-company trading

D.

The company’s employee working conditions

E.

The company's code of ethics

F.

The company's policy on carbon emissions

Question 18

What is the best way to prevent potential issues of conflicts of interest?

Options:

A.

do not hire family members

B.

openly declare potential conflicts

C.

do not work with suppliers who have relationships with the procurement team

D.

create a risk register

Question 19

When conducting an ABC analysis- what category of items and type of suppliers would you typically find in the A category?

Options:

A.

low value items, transactional suppliers

B.

low value items, strategic suppliers

C.

high value items, strategic suppliers

D.

high value items, transactional suppliers

Question 20

When evaluating a supplier's proposal in relation to ESC (Environmental, Social, Governance, and ethical elements), it is common to send questionnaires to suppliers requesting information, which can later be scored. Which of the following questions would be assessing any of the ESC criteria?

    Could you provide details on your manufacturing and raw material costs as part of an open-book pricing contract?

    How do you promote equal opportunity for your employees, customers, and suppliers?

    What is the annual turnover and profitability of your company?

    Does your company have an anti-bribery policy?

Options:

A.

1 and 3

B.

2 and 3

C.

2 and 4

D.

1 and 4

Question 21

When assessing the financial performance of a potential supplier, it is important to understand how much gross profit they are making. The gross profit margin ratio uses which of the following pieces of information from the profit and loss (statement of financial performance)? Select TWO that apply.

Options:

A.

Cost of goods sold

B.

Value of equity capital

C.

Income from sales

D.

Current liabilities

E.

Total current assets

Question 22

When assessing social responsibility elements of a supplier's proposal, what type of supporting evidence could a supplier provide?

Options:

A.

Evidence of compliance with fair trade standards

B.

Results of a customer service survey on delivery performance

C.

Quality control reports documenting quality checks in the manufacturing process

D.

Financial statements detailing profit and loss accounts

Question 23

What are the two main financial accounting statements of an organisation that show the values of assets and liabilities, and the profit earned in the period?

Options:

A.

Cash flow statement (statement of cash flow) and balance sheet (statement of financial position)

B.

Balance sheet (statement of financial position) and profit and loss account (statement of financial performance)

C.

Profit and loss account (statement of financial performance) and chairman’s statement (in the annual report)

D.

Cash flow statement (statement of cash flow) and profit and loss statement (statement of financial performance)

Question 24

Which of the following are primary sources of data? Select TWO.

Options:

A.

market reasearch commissioned by a rival company

B.

economic indices such as PPI or CPI

C.

published price lists

D.

trade fairs and exibits

E.

phone calls with current suppliers

Question 25

A buyer is responsible for the procurement of metals within the raw materials department. The buyer is preparing for next year’s purchase orders and has been asked to confirm the month of order placement. The buyer has found three trends:

    In January and April, the supplier's local currency is stronger

    November typically has the lowest demand

    May typically has the highest demand

Which month should the buyer plan to place the purchase order?

Options:

A.

November

B.

May

C.

January

D.

April

Question 26

Which of the following are remedial actions that may be undertaken by the purchasing organisation following a supplier audit? Select the TWO that apply.

Options:

A.

Violating the terms of the supplier contract

B.

Define specific corrective actions for the supplier

C.

Daily brainstorming meetings with the supplier

D.

Employing the supplier’s staff for job training

E.

Running supplier development programmes

Question 27

Which of the following Incoterms has the lowest risk for the supplier?

Options:

A.

ex works

B.

delivered at terminal

C.

free on board

D.

delivered duty paid

Question 28

Khalid is a procurement manager in the UK who is looking to source exotic fruit for a retailer. As this type of fruit doesn't grow naturally in the UK Khalid is looking at international suppliers, but is worried about variations in exchange rates. He is considering asking the suppliers to provide quotes in their local currencies. Will this reduce the risk posed to Khalid?

Options:

A.

yes- suppliers should quote in their own currencies so there is no risk to the importing company

B.

yes- when suppliers quote in local currencies you are more likely to get better prices

C.

no- quoting the prices in GBP / £ will provide Khalid with better security against cur-rency fluctuations

D.

no- prices should be quoted in GBP / £ as this will reduce the cost of imports

Question 29

A buyer has been working with their business managers on a tender. The buyer is now assessing the tender proposals from the external market. Is it good practice for the procurement buyer to makesourcing recommendations?

Options:

A.

Yes, the procurement buyer should assess and take all decisions to award the tender independently of the business managers to avoid conflict of interest

B.

No, it is a lengthy, costly, and unnecessary step for the procurement buyer to engage business managers

C.

No, the buyer's recommendations are not relevant to the final sourcing decision, which must be taken by the business managers

D.

Yes, the procurement buyer can advise on the competitive proposal but should engage with the business managers about the decision to award the tender

Question 30

What would an EBITDA ratio show you?

Options:

A.

how profitable a business is

B.

how solvent a business is

C.

how much of a business's funding is made up of long term debt

D.

how effectively a business uses its assets to generate sales

Question 31

Tulip Rose Industries is using a restricted approach to tendering for a new contract for the facilities management of their seven factories which produce furniture made of organic materials. What is likely to be the reason they are using a restricted approach?

Options:

A.

the requirement is complex

B.

the suppliers are likely to be unqualified

C.

interest in the tender opportunity is likely to be low

D.

interest in the tender opportunity is likely to be high

Question 32

A company has a low gearing of 20%. This shows that the company relies on equity capital and should therefore have less difficulty coping during tough economic times. Is this statement TRUE?

Options:

A.

Yes- a low gearing ratio means the company's finances are made up of equity rather than debt

B.

Yes- a low gearing ratio shows that the business is solvent and can deal with supply chain disruptions easily

C.

No- a low gearing suggests that the company is financed by long-term debt rather than equity

D.

No- a low gearing shows you that a company isn't likely to be profitable

Question 33

Greg is doing some research on a potential supplier and is concerned that the supplier's funding is based on long-term debts and loans. Working with this supplier therefore might bring additional risks to Greg's business. What should Greg do about his concerns?

Options:

A.

use the Return on Investment Ratio

B.

do an Acid Test

C.

work out the supplier's EBITDA

D.

work out the supplier's gearing ratio

Question 34

In which circumstances would a procurement manager effectively use competitive tendering for the award of contracts?

Options:

A.

When the value of the procurement is high and special tooling is a major factor

B.

When the requirement is needed urgently and price is not the most important factor

C.

When the suppliers have technical expertise, and the value of the procurement is relatively high

D.

When the specification is likely to be continuously reviewed as the contract progresses

Question 35

Which award criteria can be applied when sourcing requirements from external suppliers?

Options:

A.

Delivery promises of goods

B.

Price and total life-cycle costs

C.

Plans and manpower numbers

D.

Understanding of supplier operations

Question 36

Which of the following is an example of intracompany trading? Select TWO

Options:

A.

a manufacturer in the UK buys raw copper from a supplier in Chile

B.

two companies owned by the same entity conduct business

C.

two companies join together to create a new product

D.

two departments within the same company collaborate on a project

E.

cleverness

Question 37

Ali is the Category Manager at an airplane manufacturing factory. He works with many different suppliers who provide different components for the planes. The company is investing heavily in Environmental and Social Governance and Ali has been asked by the CEO what the best practice is to ensure ethical behaviour from suppliers. Ali has suggested completing Audits. Is this the right thing to do?

Options:

A.

No- audits will only reveal financial issues not ethical ones

B.

No- Ali should simply ask the supplier's about their ethical practices

C.

Yes- audits always uncover ethical violations such as modern day slavery

D.

yes - these can be completed without warning which would give Ali an accurate picture of the supplier's operations

Question 38

Which of the following would you use to determine the outcome of a competitive tender? Select TWO.

Options:

A.

location

B.

distribution

C.

reputation

D.

quality

E.

price

Question 39

'Phishing' is an activity that can occur when an employee within an organisation receives an email that appears to be from a genuine supplier but is false. These types of emails expose the organisation to the activities of expert cyber criminals. Which type of crime category does this activity fall within?

Options:

A.

Bribery

B.

Human rights

C.

Corruption

D.

Fraud

Question 40

Which of the following would be a valid reason to make a product inhouse, rather than buy it from a supplier?

Options:

A.

improved quality control

B.

less inventory

C.

killset of supplier is higher

D.

threat of substitutions

Question 41

Which of the following is not a Human Rights as protected by the UN Declaration on Human Rights?

Options:

A.

freedom of Belief and to change beliefs

B.

the right to be treated equally

C.

the right to free speech

D.

the right to change nationality

Question 42

Liquidity is a solvency measure which determines whether an organisation is able to pay its debt. Which of the following would you use to assess a supplier's liquidity? Select TWO.

Options:

A.

current assets

B.

current liabilities

C.

long-term debt

D.

shareholder's equity

Question 43

When conducting a competitive tender, is it appropriate to use a supplier's credit rating as a criteria for pre-section?

Options:

A.

yes- because a low rating would have a negative impact on the company's reputation

B.

yes- because a low rating would indicate the supplier is financially unstable

C.

no- because a low rating would not affect the quality of the products supplied

D.

no- because a low credit rating would have a negative impact on the supply chain

Question 44

What is the best way to prevent potential issues of conflicts of interest?

Options:

A.

do not hire family members

B.

openly declare potential conflicts

C.

do not work with suppliers who have relationships with the procurement team

D.

create a risk register

Question 45

If a company is described as 'liquid' what does this mean?

Options:

A.

the company is funded on equity rather than debt

B.

the company spends a lot of money

C.

the company is highly profitable

D.

the company has enough money to pay short-term liabilities

Question 46

Faisal is a medical equipment maintenance services procurement specialist within a local hospital. Faisal is responsible for ensuring contracts are in place that will ensure operational continuity of high-value pieces such as radiology equipment. When carrying out tender opportunities for these services, Faisal will specify, as an essential requirement, that certain standards are adhered to. Which of the following is a benefit of incorporating standards as a requirement within a specification?

Options:

A.

Standards provide clear guidelines and remove the risk of ambiguity

B.

Standards will mirror the buyer's requirements in its entirety

C.

Standards will ensure suppliers meet all the buyer's requirements

D.

Standards will ensure low pricing is submitted in the tender response

Question 47

As a procurement officer for a large organisation, a supplier approaches you on social media offering to take you out for dinner to discuss a recent open opportunity and mentions a financial reward if you help them win the business. You accept the invite. Was this the right thing to do?

Options:

A.

Yes, you are free to do what you like outside of business hours

B.

No, it is not appropriate to discuss open opportunities with one provider and not another

C.

Yes, you are keen to see what is on offer as you are only on minimum wage currently and need extra money

D.

No, but you will go for the dinner and see what they offer, because it is up to you to decide if you should accept

Question 48

If a commodity index shows that the price of a commodity is continually rising, what does this indicate about the market?

Options:

A.

that there is little demand in the marketplace

B.

demand is exceeding supply

C.

there is a threat of substitution

D.

the marketplace is a monopoly

Question 49

Which of the following is an advantage to the TUPE regulations?

Options:

A.

Continuity of supply for the buying organisation

B.

Value for money for the buying organisation

C.

Reduced overheads for the buying organisation

D.

Increase in buyer power

Question 50

In which circumstances would a procurement manager effectively use competitive tendering for the award of contracts?

Options:

A.

When the value of the procurement is high and special tooling is a major factor

B.

When the requirement is needed urgently and price is not the most important factor

C.

When the suppliers have technical expertise, and the value of the procurement is relatively high

D.

When the specification is likely to be continuously reviewed as the contract progresses

Question 51

An organisation is keep to include Social Outcomes in it's assessment for Value for Money for a new tender. Which of the following should be considered?

Options:

A.

use of local labour to deliver the contract

B.

CO2 emissions of the supplier's delivery vehicles

C.

supplier's ESG policy

D.

accreditations such as Fair Trade

Question 52

Which of the following is an example of intracompany trading? Select TWO

Options:

A.

a manufacturer in the UK buys raw copper from a supplier in Chile

B.

two companies owned by the same entity conduct business

C.

two companies join together to create a new product

D.

two departments within the same company collaborate on a project

E.

cleverness

Question 53

A public sector buyer has run a competitive tender, for which there were eight bidders. All bidders have met the public sector organisation's minimum standards. In addition, they must also meet several other requirements. The buyer will make the contract award decision based on which of the following?

Options:

A.

Weighted criteria

B.

The supplier location

C.

Framework agreement terms

D.

The bidder's price

Question 54

Tracey Collum is a procurement professional and married to Nick Collum. Tracey has been leading a tender for a new radar system, where four suppliers have submitted their bids. After the bids were received, Nick joined one of the suppliers (Supplier X) as the project director for radar systems. Nick has asked Tracey to award the contract to Supplier X. What should Tracey do?

Options:

A.

Award the contract to Supplier X because Nick will be promoted if Supplier X wins the contract

B.

Award the contract to Supplier X because Tracey can ask for a better price because they are married

C.

Ask to be removed from the tender due to a conflict of interest and complete a conflict of interest form

D.

Remove Supplier X from the tender due to a conflict of interest and continue with the tender

Question 55

Private sector procurement organisations should always allow suppliers at least 35 days to respond to invitations to tender. Is this statement true?

Options:

A.

No, because this timeframe will cause delays that are unacceptable to stakeholders

B.

Yes, because it helps suppliers to plan and prioritise their work

C.

No, because the complexity of the tender should inform the response timescale

D.

Yes, because that timeframe is internationally recognised as being appropriate

Question 56

A company's balance sheet will show you which of the following?

Options:

A.

revenue, profit and expenses

B.

equity, assets and liabilities

C.

cash coming in and out of the business

D.

profit, loss and assets

Question 57

An organisation is keep to include Social Outcomes in it's assessment for Value for Money for a new tender. Which of the following should be considered?

Options:

A.

use of local labour to deliver the contract

B.

CO2 emissions of the supplier's delivery vehicles

C.

supplier's ESG policy

D.

accreditations such as Fair Trade

Question 58

Which of the following is a UK legislation concerning product safety?

Options:

A.

Enterprise Act 2002

B.

Consumer Rights Act 2015

C.

GDPR 2018

D.

Competition Act 1998

Question 59

If a commodity index shows that the price of a commodity is continually rising, what does this indicate about the market?

Options:

A.

that there is little demand in the marketplace

B.

demand is exceeding supply

C.

there is a threat of substitution

D.

the marketplace is a monopoly

Question 60

A buyer has discovered their supplier has taken the passports of some of their workforce. The supplier has offered the buyer a discount against the contract, but the discount only applies if the buyer does not report this finding. Which ethical concerns should the buyer report to the necessary stakeholders?

    Fraudulent activity

    Bribery

    Modern slavery

    Breach of confidentiality

Options:

A.

2 and 3 only

B.

1 and 3 only

C.

1 and 4 only

D.

2 and 4 only

Question 61

Which of the following characteristics are likely to be required within sourcing processes undertaken in the public sector?

    An emphasis on long-term supplier relationships where possible

    Maintaining service levels within value and cost parameters

    All dealings between buyers and suppliers are kept confidential

    A competitive tendering process is usually encouraged

Options:

A.

2 and 4 only

B.

2 and 3 only

C.

1 and 3 only

D.

1 and 2 only

Question 62

When looking at credit scores, a supplier may be classified as a high risk for reasons that are notlinked to poor credit. Which of the following could these be? Select TWO

Options:

A.

The organisation is new

B.

The organisation has no loans or credit cards

C.

The organisation has lots of fixed assets

D.

The organisation does not employ many people

Question 63

It is good practice for the procuring organisation's auditors to undertake the following upon completion of a supplier's audit. Select the TWO that apply.

Options:

A.

Do nothing, after all, this is a known supplier incapable of serious breaches

B.

Inform the supplier of any non-conformances and improvement opportunities

C.

Report non-compliance to police and have the supplier arrested for lapses

D.

Prepare an audit report that may be shared with the supplier in advance

E.

Call for a meeting with colleagues and share confidential details of the audit

Question 64

Robert is appraising suppliers and is keen to evaluate suppliers' contribution to the community and the environment. Which of the following should Robert look at?

Options:

A.

ESG Policy

B.

Anti-Slavery Policy

C.

ISO9001

D.

ISO27000

Question 65

What are the risks of outsourcing?

    Loss of control of a project

    Loss of assets

    Loss of future business opportunities

    Loss of private information

Options:

A.

1 and 4 only

B.

2 and 3 only

C.

3 and 4 only

D.

1 and 2 only

Demo: 65 questions
Total 217 questions