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CIPS L4M6 Supplier Relationships Exam Practice Test

Demo: 72 questions
Total 243 questions

Supplier Relationships Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following are NOT one of the four key principles of procurement in the EU?

Options:

A.

Transparency

B.

Value for Money

C.

Non-Discrimination

D.

Proportionality

Question 2

A partnership between a software development company and a software supplier has recently been created. In order for the partnership to be successful, what is a critical action to take in the early stages of their relationship?

Options:

A.

Define the standards both parties are expected to meet

B.

Look at costing models

C.

Promote the new partnership

D.

Complete audits on the performance of both parties

Question 3

Polly Manufacturing is a company which manufactures bicycle parts. It has several factories around the country and is one of the leading suppliers of wheels, bells and pedals. Which of the following is Polly Manufacturing likely to outsource? Select TWO options.

Options:

A.

Manufacturing of all bicycle parts

B.

Manufacturing of bells only

C.

Facilities Management

D.

Cleaning

Question 4

The use of technical jargon can result in what?

Options:

A.

Misunderstanding

B.

Lack of trust

C.

Increased price

D.

Lack of transparency

Question 5

A partnership relationship in portfolio analysis is appropriate for which category of procurement?

Options:

A.

Strategic security

B.

Tactical profit

C.

Tactical acquisition

D.

Strategic critical

Question 6

Danny is procuring a new IT software, which he doesn’t know much about. He has done a bit of research on the internet but is still unsure how much he can expect to pay. What should be Danny’s next step?

Options:

A.

Issue a RFI

B.

Issue a RFQ

C.

Issue an ITT

D.

Issue an OJEU

Question 7

Which of the following are not stages of team development? Select TWO.

Options:

A.

Forming

B.

Mourning

C.

Achieving

D.

Adjourning

E.

Accepting

Question 8

Kirsty is designing a specification for a new contract and wants to include some qualitive KPIs for the new supplier, as well as quantitative. Which of the following could she include? Select TWO.

Options:

A.

Deliveries in full and on time

B.

Information sharing

C.

Trust

D.

Cost savings

E.

Early supplier involvement

Question 9

Agile Cars Ltd is creating a ‘lean’ business model which involves receiving deliveries of components only when they are required. Which of the following ‘wastes’ is being removed from the business?

Options:

A.

Transportation

B.

Defects

C.

Over-production

D.

Inventory

Question 10

A vehicle company has a partnering relationship with the manufacturer of its engines. The manufacturer is considered a key partner and is already involved in product development at the vehicle company in several strategic projects. The car company and engine manufacturer have integrated systems for a just-in-time (JIT) delivery. Is this an example of a significant integration partnership?

Options:

A.

No, it is an example of a less time-intensive partnership

B.

No, as there is a short-term focus on the relationship

C.

Yes, as this is an example of a target costing approach

D.

Yes, because it includes elements of joint product development

Question 11

A buyer is procuring a high-value specialist piece of medical equipment to use in the healthcare sector from a market that consists of minimal competition. The buyer has decided to use an open tender procedure to purchase the equipment. Is this an appropriate method to use?

Options:

A.

Yes, a shortlisting process is not required as there are few suppliers

B.

No, a tendering process is not required as there are few suppliers

C.

Yes, as complex procurement must always use this type of tender process

D.

No, an emergency tender process is required due to the critical nature of the equipment

Question 12

Which of the following is a stage in the relationship lifecycle?

Options:

A.

Decline

B.

Graduation

C.

Measuring

D.

Testing

Question 13

A textile company is purchasing a new item which is low value. This item is likely never to be required again by the company and is widely available from many different suppliers. Which commercial relationship type would be most effective for the buyer to choose?

Options:

A.

Adversarial

B.

Closer tactical

C.

Outsourcing

D.

Partnership

Question 14

Brian Air is a company that is trying to break into the air transport market. Which of the following could be barriers to entry for Brian Air? Select THREE

Options:

A.

economies of scale

B.

access to capital

C.

licences and permits

D.

health and safety

E.

ethical sourcing

Question 15

A comprehensive approach to managing the termination of a contractual relationship would include ...

Options:

A.

Giving qualitative feedback only

B.

Attacking the personalities, not the problem

C.

Setting remedies and compensation for contractual breaches

D.

Setting aside the value of existing work done by both parties

Question 16

A large construction group has a critical contract with a brick supplier. This represents high-value spend and the contract has a five-year duration. What type of commercial relationship would be the most appropriate?

Options:

A.

Partnership

B.

Transactional

C.

Closer Tactical

D.

Outsourcing

Question 17

Marcus is an account manager for a company that sells maintenance spares for air conditioning units. He has a customer who persistently pays late, is very demanding in terms of constant requests, and the profit margin on the account is minimal. If Marcus were to use a supplier preferencing model to map this customer, what category would he place them into?

Options:

A.

Core

B.

Exploitable

C.

Nuisance

D.

Development

Question 18

Mendelow’s Stakeholder Matrix categorises stakeholders into four groups and provides insight into how these stakeholders should be managed. What is a limitation to using this Matrix to categorise stakeholders?

Options:

A.

Nowadays, Stakeholders fall into more than four categories

B.

The Matrix doesn’t consider the power these stakeholders have

C.

The Matrix doesn’t consider whether the stakeholder is for or against the activity

D.

The categories are hard to remember

Question 19

Significant differences in corporate cultures can lead to the failure of a partnership relationship between two organisations. Is this statement correct?

Options:

A.

Yes, the compatibility of cultures should be considered at the outset

B.

Yes, in a partnership the organisations merge, so the cultures must be the same

C.

No, the organisations can continue to operate separately so this is not an issue

D.

No, it is easy to change corporate culture so the two organisations will align quickly

Question 20

A restricted market is a market where there are only a small number of capable and competent suppliers. Which of the following is not a reason for a marketplace to be restricted?

Options:

A.

Low levels of profitability

B.

High barriers to entry

C.

Strong governmental regulation

D.

The product is easy to source elsewhere

Question 21

Which of the following are possible drivers for partnership sourcing? Select THREE.

Options:

A.

The protection of intellectual property rights

B.

The marketplace has become more volatile

C.

Working together will create synergies

D.

The need to improve performance to satisfy the end customerTo increase production costs and lead-times

Question 22

Which of the following are considered value-adding primary activities?

    Inbound logistics

    Firm infrastructure

    Technology development

    Marketing and sales

Options:

A.

2 and 4 only

B.

3 and 4 only

C.

1 and 2 only

D.

1 and 4 only

Question 23

Which of the following are valid strategies for dealing with conflict? Select THREE

Options:

A.

Competing

B.

Collecting

C.

Contesting

D.

Compromising

E.

Collaborating

Question 24

Which of the following documents can be used at the selection stage of a tender process to ensure that short listed bidders meet the requirements of the buying organisation? Select TWO.

Options:

A.

Request for Information

B.

Request for Quotation

C.

Pre-Qualification Questionnaire

D.

Invitation to Tender

Question 25

Which circumstances make a buyer more attractive to the supplier?

Options:

A.

Where the brand profile is high

B.

When the buyer negotiates longer credit terms

C.

Where the buyer exercises a stringent code of conduct

D.

When the buyer is very procedural in its systems

Question 26

Philip is working with a supplier where the annual spend is low but the market risk is high. What portfolio analysis category would be appropriate?

Options:

A.

Strategic

B.

Leverage

C.

Non-critical

D.

Bottleneck

Question 27

In the Purchasing Portfolio Matrix, a leverage product is a product in a market where it is easy to switch suppliers and the quality is standardised. Is this TRUE or FALSE?

Options:

A.

False, the product is in a supply market which is highly complex and the product is of low importance

B.

False, the product is in a supply market which is highly complex and the product is of high importance

C.

True, the product is in a supply market which is of low complexity and the product is of high importance

D.

True, the product is in a supply market which is of low complexity and the product is of low importance

Question 28

A company's analysis shows that some of their products from a supplier fall into the 'strategic' segment of the supply positioning grid. They are meeting with the supplier with the intention that they enter into a partnership. The supplier views the company as 'core' to their business. Which one of the following factors would be most important in determining that a partnership agreement would be good for both companies?

Options:

A.

They have a high spend with the supplier

B.

They have a low spend with the supplier

C.

Their products are technically simple

D.

There are many suppliers in the market

Question 29

An automotive company has hired Tom as the procurement manager. Tom is to manage a team of two people who have worked in the department for a number of years. Conflict exists between the two members of staff due to an overlap of responsibilities. Which of the following processes would be most appropriate for Tom to use to reduce this conflict?

Options:

A.

Tom could avoid mentioning the conflict and hope that it is resolved without action

B.

Tom could hire an additional member of staff to take on some of the duties

C.

Tom could restructure the team so both members do not have to work together

D.

Tom could arrange a meeting and set performance targets for each member

Question 30

When overcoming stakeholder resistance in a procurement-led project, which of the following groups would have the highest level of influence on other stakeholders?

    Negative leaders

    Silent opponents

    Supporters

    Promoters

Options:

A.

2 and 3 only

B.

1 and 4 only

C.

1 and 2 only

D.

3 and 4 only

Question 31

Robbie is a procurement manager at a public sector organisation. He is running a tender which is worth £2m and so will advertise this on OJEU. His manager has reminded Robbie to include CPV codes on the tender. What purpose would this serve?

Options:

A.

To ensure suppliers know the deadline for tender submission

B.

To ensure suppliers can find the opportunity

C.

To ensure more suppliers bid for the tender

D.

To ensure only qualified suppliers bid for the tender

Question 32

An amicable style approach to ending a buyer-supplier relationship would be most appropriate in which of the following circumstances?

Options:

A.

1 and 2

B.

1 and 3

C.

3 and 4

D.

1 and 4

Question 33

The Pareto Principle is sometimes also known as what?

Options:

A.

Five Forces

B.

JIT

C.

ABC Analysis

D.

Cost Engineering

Question 34

Which of the following would be the most likely driver for a manufacturing organisation to consider partnership sourcing?

Options:

A.

The marketplace is stable and costs are decreasing

B.

To increase the number of suppliers

C.

Product life cycles are shortening

D.

Raw material prices are reducing

Question 35

Within a supplier's terms and conditions, they have a 'mutual termination for convenience' clause, which requires either party to provide 30 days' notice. Before the buyer signed the agreement, a procurement colleague recommended that the buyer should request this be amended to 90 days' notice. Was this amendment the correct thing to do?

Options:

A.

Yes, as this will allow the buyer enough time to mobilize a new contract

B.

Yes, as the buyer will then be responsible for providing additional business to the supplier

C.

No, as this will be in breach of statutory contract law requirements

D.

No, as this will guarantee a hostile end to the buyer-supplier relationship

Question 36

A large office orders weekly from a stationery supplier. The items are low cost and if the delivery is a day late it does not affect the running of the office. Where would this supplier be positioned in a supplier matrix?

Options:

A.

Routine

B.

Leverage

C.

Critical

D.

Bottleneck

Question 37

A buying organisation has decided to terminate its partnership with its supplier (FGH). For some time, the supplier has not been proactive in advising when deliveries will be late, which has frustrated the buying organisation. The supply market has historically been limited to a small number of suppliers, but new suppliers have decided that the market is attractive. The buying organisation is now considering setting up a partnership with a new supplier (XYZ) who has recently entered the market. What are the reasons for the buying organisation deciding to terminate its relationship with supplier FGH? Select TWO that apply.

Options:

A.

Changes in the composition of the supply market

B.

Levels of supply availability in the market have decreased

C.

The buyer no longer believes in the value of partnership relationships

D.

The supplier has decided that it no longer wishes to keep the buying organisation as a customer

E.

Poor communication by the supplier

Question 38

The director of procurement for a global telecommunications firm has segmented their expenditure and has decided to focus on developing relationships with their bottleneck suppliers. Is this the correct process?

Options:

A.

No, as there is lots of variety of goods available

B.

No, as there is vast competition

C.

Yes, as there are low costs to switching suppliers

D.

Yes, as there are little or no other options available

Question 39

What is the correct order of the stages of team development?

Options:

A.

Forming, storming, norming, performing

B.

Forming, norming, performing, storming

C.

Storming, forming, performing, norming

D.

Storming, forming, norming, performing

Question 40

Harry has just entered into a partnership with a key supplier. Although he is excited about the prospect, he thinks it’s a good idea to set some goals and KPIs. Which of the following criteria should Harry use to decide if a KPI is appropriate?

Options:

A.

Measurable, achievable and relevant

B.

Relatable, precise, and measurable

C.

Time bound, difficult and relevant

D.

Significant, measurable and achievable

Question 41

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) include items such as copywrite and trademarks. A buyer is considering entering into a partnership with their supplier to create a new product which will be released in two years’ time. Should IPR be included into a contract between partners?

Options:

A.

Yes- IPR should always remain with the buyer- this will protect those rights

B.

Yes- IPR is a valid concern for both parties but will survive the termination of the agreement

C.

No- a separate legal agreement should be created to cover IPR

D.

No- a contract is not necessary if it is a partnership.

Question 42

A confectionery company has a portfolio of different items to sell. Their most popular product is the chocolate brownie cake, but they have begun to trial sales of cereal bars, granola cereal, and chewing gum. As a high-quality producer in a competitive market, the company requires effective supplier sourcing arrangements. Which ONE of the following product lines would be the most suitable for partnership sourcing?

Options:

A.

Chocolate brownie cake

B.

Chewing gum

C.

Cereal bars

D.

Granola cereal

Question 43

Which of the following are Intellectual Property Rights that you would you encounter in procurement and supply contracts? Select THREE.

Options:

A.

Method Statements

B.

Risk Assessments

C.

Patents

D.

Copywrite

E.

Trademark

Question 44

Laura is working with suppliers on the design of a component for a new boiler. One of the current suppliers suggested manufacturing the component from plastic they recently developed and patented, rather than commonly used brass. What competitive force is this supplier creating in the market to affect competition?

Options:

A.

New entry

B.

Substitute

C.

Buyer power

D.

Supplier power

Question 45

Pablo has run an open- competition to secure a new contract for a supplier of paper for his Birthday Card making company. He has received 10 submissions from various suppliers and needs to put a team together to evaluate the bids. What type of team should Pablo consider?

Options:

A.

A team composed of internal stakeholders

B.

A cross-functional team

C.

A team of procurement experts

D.

A team composed of internal and external stakeholders

Question 46

In the 1990s, a manufacturer of portable music players partnered with a mini-disk producer. The aim of the partnership was to reduce the size and cost of the devices and enhance flexibility. Sales of the product after launch were low due to a competitive launch of small digital players, which offered better flexibility to customers at a comparable price. The partners suffered substantial loss and never recovered the investment. In order to mitigate the risk described, what should both partners have considered before investing in the product? Select the TWO that apply.

Options:

A.

Fast charging markers

B.

Customer price expectation

C.

New substitute technology

D.

Cost of investment

E.

Legal implication of partnering

Question 47

Which of the following are primary activities, according to Porter's Value Chain? Select THREE.

Options:

A.

Procurement

B.

Operations

C.

Marketing and Sales

D.

Human Resources

E.

Inbound Logistics

Question 48

Which of the following are relationship types on the relationship spectrum?

    Adversarial, transactional and outsourcing

    Single sourced, strategic alliance and co-destiny

    Arm's length, strategic alliance and dual sourced

    Closer tactical, leverage and joint ventures

Options:

A.

1 and 2 only

B.

2 and 3 only

C.

1 and 3 only

D.

2 and 4 only

Question 49

A supplier wishes to develop a new blood collection system for healthcare but needs to work with a clinical expert to develop the device. Why would a partnership be the best approach?

Options:

A.

To keep costs down

B.

It is a technically complicated supply

C.

Because it is a low-risk supply

D.

To gain market share

Question 50

In the STEEPLED framework, which of the following is an economic factor?

Options:

A.

Unemployment rates

B.

Demographics

C.

Supply chain labor standards

D.

Election results

Question 51

How would a buyer measure value for money from a relationship with a new supplier for goods?

Options:

A.

Audit of how suppliers promise

B.

Lowest possible cost

C.

Balance of quality and cost

D.

Quality and volume of goods

Question 52

Sandra is a buyer for a large supermarket and has been increasing unhappy with the performance of a long-term supplier of bananas. Over time the deliveries have become unreliable and this has had impacts on the supermarket’s profitability. What should Sandra do first?

Options:

A.

Obtain business approval to terminate the contract

B.

Develop an exit strategy

C.

Review the market and look for an alternative supplier

D.

Give written notice to the supplier of plans to terminate

Question 53

A buyer should concentrate their efforts on managing the start and onboarding stage of a supplier relationship by ...

    Keeping all information and plans confidential from the supplier

    Pre-qualifying and assessing the supplier's capability

    Focusing solely on the buying organisation's goals

    Building a positive and trusting relationship

Options:

A.

1 and 2

B.

1 and 3

C.

3 and 4

D.

2 and 4

Question 54

Price fluctuations can affect profitability. Is this statement correct?

Options:

A.

Yes, if the product's costs increase and the price does not

B.

No, only decisions made by the chief executive affect the price

C.

No, price is not related to profitability

D.

Yes, as sales may drop if the product is price inelastic

Question 55

The purpose of supplier pre-qualification is to identify suppliers that have the financial stability to assist in continuous supply. Is this statement TRUE?

Options:

A.

Yes, because profitability ratios are always used to determine the most suitable potential supplier

B.

Yes, although the sustainability of supply should be determined by considering other factors

C.

No, financial stability can be determined by accountants only

D.

No, the most important aspect of determining supplier suitability is by trial orders

Question 56

Which of the following is an advantage for the suppler of entering into a partnership with a buyer?

Options:

A.

They may gain an increased volume of business

B.

There is more flexibility when selling the product

C.

The Intellectual Property Rights of the buyer become yours

D.

They no longer have to try as hard to win business.

Question 57

Fred is a new procurement manager at a large engineering firm. They procure 100s of components and use these to make kitchen appliances such as kettles and toasters. He has been asked by his manager to look into procuring a new component which will go into a new environmentally friendly kettle and has been asked to ensure that the firm receives value for money. What should Fred do?

Options:

A.

Hold an open competition

B.

Contact current suppliers to try and get a good deal

C.

Invite known suppliers to bid for the contract

D.

Put together a business case to make the product in-house

Question 58

Value for money in the private sector is concerned with what?

Options:

A.

Getting the best price possible

B.

Shareholder profit and business benefit

C.

Ensuring taxpayers’ money is spent wisely

D.

Getting the best quality possible

Question 59

When a large organization partners with a small supplier to develop new technology, it is necessary for regular communication. Is this statement true?

Options:

A.

No, because partnerships do not require regular communication during development of new technology

B.

Yes, because partnerships require regular communication to succeed in meeting mutual objectives

C.

Yes, because a small supplier must be told what to do and when, because they have fewer employees

D.

No, because regular communication will stop a small supplier from doing their work

Question 60

Which of the following options are legitimate reasons for terminating a contract? Select TWO that apply.

Options:

A.

You ordered 10,000 items instead of 1,000

B.

One of the contracted parties has clearly failed to perform its duties

C.

There has been a serious breach of contract terms

D.

Your internal stakeholder requested the wrong items

E.

Your MRP system placed a replenishment order that you do not need

Question 61

Which of the following macro-environmental factors can affect supply chains?

Options:

A.

social, economic and cost

B.

environmental, ethical and cost

C.

political, economic and social

D.

environmental, ergonomic and social

Question 62

Supplier development should be undertaken with all suppliers that a buyer uses. Is this statement TRUE?

Options:

A.

yes- it is important to develop all relationships

B.

yes- this will improve efficiencies for the buyer

C.

no- supplier development should only be done with strategic suppliers

D.

no- supplier development should only be done with tactical suppliers

Question 63

What are service credits?

Options:

A.

A type of payment where goods are delivered before payment is made

B.

A mechanism for performance management where the buyer has the right to deduct money from payments owed for under performance

C.

When a buyer makes a purchase on credit

D.

A clause in a contract that allows for additional bonus payments for meeting KPIs

Question 64

Can a cost leadership strategy be described as 'no frills'?

Options:

A.

Yes, it lowers the cost and increases the competitive scope

B.

Yes, it lowers the cost and differentiates the product

C.

No, as it increases the costs and differentiates the product

D.

No, as it increases the costs and narrows the market segment

Question 65

Andrew runs a factory that makes cakes. Vanilla Extract is a vital ingredient in Andrew’s cakes and this is a monopolistic market. Andrew has noticed recently that the quality of the supplier’s product has reduced, and this has led to several complaints from customers. Andrew is considering entering into a Partnership with this supplier as he believes this will help increase the supplier’s performance. Is this the correct thing to do?

Options:

A.

Yes- partnership sourcing can improve performance which will ultimately satisfy the end customer

B.

Yes- partnership sourcing will improve sales figures

C.

No- Andrew should use an alternative supplier

D.

No- Andrew should outsource the vanilla extract.

Question 66

Why is it more difficult for buyers in the public sector to build relationships with suppliers?

Options:

A.

Buyer power is weak in the public sector

B.

Buyer power is strong in the public sector

C.

There are regulations prohibiting public sector buyers from developing relationships

D.

There are regulations that state competitive tender processes must be undertaken regularly

Question 67

Victoria runs a hotel and has recently had several security issues such as attempted robberies. She has decided that she needs to hire a security firm to ensure these issues don’t continue. She has done some research and has found there are several local security firms who may be able to provide services to her hotel. However, she hasn’t decided exactly what she would require the security firm to do. What should be Victoria’s next steps?

Options:

A.

Issue a Request for Proposal

B.

Issue an Invitation to Tender

C.

Issue a Request for Quotation

D.

Issue a Prior Information Notice

Question 68

Which of the following are typical drivers for a partnership between the buyer and the supplier? Select the THREE that apply.

Options:

A.

The buyer has a high spend with the supplier

B.

There are many suppliers in the market

C.

The product is critical for the buyer

D.

The product is a commodity

E.

The product is technically complex

F.

The supplier provides the product to a buyer’s competitor

Question 69

What is a valid reason for terminating a commercial relationship?

Options:

A.

Fulfilment of the contract

B.

One late delivery

C.

The other party seeks to trade with other parties alongside you

D.

A change of management within the other party, but no change to the company ethos

Question 70

Kyle Grant is a procurement director at ATSS Ltd and has introduced a new policy within the procurement function. The policy requires the procurement function to obtain quotations from multiple suppliers if a contract is worth over £10,000. What is the primary aim of this policy?

Options:

A.

To deliver an agile process

B.

To ensure value for money is achieved

C.

To allow procurement to select the lowest price

D.

To enable a reduction in competition

Question 71

A procurement category manager has been asked to advise the project team on the appropriate selection and awarding process for a complex procurement project in a multi-geographical organisation. It is likely the specification will be updated during the process, and several phases of negotiation will be required throughout. This will include final negotiations with the winning bidder. The team are therefore aware it will be a time-consuming project. Which process should be advised?

Options:

A.

Open tender

B.

Restricted tender

C.

Competitive dialogue

D.

Request for quotation

Question 72

Which of the following are characteristics that differentiate between a partnership relationship and traditional contracting relationships? Select THREE.

Options:

A.

Lower costs

B.

No tender process

C.

Early supplier involvement

D.

Supplier KPIs

E.

No defined end period

Demo: 72 questions
Total 243 questions