CIPS L4M6 Supplier Relationships Exam Practice Test

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.

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.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

When a buyer selects a single supplier for a specific period, such as a one-year contract, and excludes other suppliers during this time, this is referred to as asingle sourcedrelationship. This approach is often used to consolidate purchases, achieve economies of scale, and build a more streamlined procurement process for specific goods or services.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Developing a new blood collection system is a complex task that requires specialized knowledge and expertise. A partnership allows the supplier to collaborate closely with a clinical expert, combining their respective strengths to innovate effectively. This collaborative approach is essential for technically complicated supplies where joint development efforts can lead to better outcomes.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

In the context of portfolio analysis, particularly using the Kraljic Matrix, procurement items are categorized based on their profit impact and supply risk.Strategic criticalitems are those with high profit impact and high supply risk. These items are vital to the organization's operations and often have limited suppliers, making them critical to secure.

For such items, developing apartnership relationshipis appropriate. This involves close collaboration, mutual trust, and long-term commitment between the buyer and supplier to ensure reliability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

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 ‘Yes- the Public Sector is regulated by EU procurement regulations which prohibits this’. This is stated on p.122. Please note that this study guide and exam were written before Brexit. Once Brexit happens, nobody knows what will happen with this.

Political factors in STEEPLED analysis relate to:

Government policy

Political stability

State intervention in markets

CIPS identifies grants and subsidies and civil unrest or war as political influences that can significantly impact supply chains.

Consumerism is a social factor, and wage rates are economic factors.

L4M6 Reference:

Learning Outcome 1: Understand external influences on procurement

Topic: STEEPLED / PESTLE analysis

CIPS L4M6 Study Guide – Political and macro-environmental factors

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

Routine items are low risk and low value. They are non-critical and often easily sourced. CIPS categorizes such items in the ‘Routine’ quadrant of the Kraljic Matrix, where minimal procurement effort is justified and supply assurance is easily managed.

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.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Early Supplier Involvement (ESI) refers to the practice of involving suppliers early in the product development process to leverage their expertise and capabilities. Cross-organisational involvement entails collaboration across various departments within the organization, such as procurement, engineering, manufacturing, and R&D, to ensure the product design is feasible and efficient for production.

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.

When contracts for services transfer between providers, TUPE regulations (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) apply in many jurisdictions. Employees retain their rights and continue employment under the new employer. Thus, employment rights are the key legal concern.

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

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)

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

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.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

In Porter's Five Forces framework, thethreat of substitutesrefers to the availability of products or services that can perform the same function as the industry's product. The supplier's suggestion to use a newly developed plastic component instead of the traditional brass one introduces a substitute product. This alternative can potentially change the dynamics of the market by offering different benefits, such as cost savings or improved performance, thereby affecting competition.

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.

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

This is differentiation as the target market is broad. Differentiation focus would be if the supermarket was targeting a niche market. There's a couple of questions on Porter's Generic Strategies in the exam- there's a useful diagram of this on P.13

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘The CEO is a key player- so it is important he is involved early in the process’. The CEO has high power and high interest which puts him in the top right-hand corner of Mendelow’s Stakeholder Matrix (p.81). CIPS says Key Players should be involved early in the procurement process (p.82).

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”

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

In the context of the IT equipment industry,Technologicalfactors are paramount. The rapid pace of technological advancement influences product development, supply chain processes, and market competitiveness. Utilizing the STEEPLED framework, technological considerations would significantly impact the company's supply chain strategy.

As per the CIPS Intelligence Hub:

"STEEPLED analysis is a strategic planning methodology that can be used across all business functions to discover, evaluate, organise, and track external risk."

— CIPS Intelligence Hub: Using STEEPLED analysis to develop your supply chain

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.

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.

Explanation

Equity is the fourth E- this means the extent to which the service is available. See p.65 for details on the 4 Es

Early supplier involvement highlights supplier strengths and capabilities, enabling collaborative development. This supports innovation and optimizes the procurement process.

CIPS refers to Tuckman’s team development model, which identifies the following stages:

Forming – team comes together

Storming – conflict and challenge

Norming – cooperation and cohesion

Performing – effective performance

Adjourning – team disbands

From the options provided:

Norming ✔

Forming ✔

Adjourning ✔

Achieving, Presenting, and Grieving are not recognised stages in Tuckman’s model.

L4M6 Reference:

Learning Outcome 3: Understand teamworking and collaboration

Topic: Team development and behaviour

CIPS L4M6 Study Guide – Tuckman’s team development theory

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.

Explanation

Internal stakeholders are those who work within the business so include the legal department, employees and end-users. End-users mean those people and departments who will be using the product or service. For example if Gabriel is procuring new software- an end-user would be anyone who would be using that software (whether they're employees, volunteers or agencies). CIPS outlines types of stakeholders on p.64

Explanation

The correct answer is Measurable, achievable and time-bound. 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.

CIPS defines partnerships as collaborative, long-term relationships based on mutual trust, transparency, and shared objectives.

Key partnership characteristics include:

Information sharing

Joint problem-solving

Continuous improvement

Reduced reliance on inspection and adversarial control mechanisms

The other options reflect transactional or traditional relationships, focusing on cost, inspection, or sourcing flexibility rather than collaboration.

L4M6 Reference:

Learning Outcome 3: Understand approaches to managing supplier relationships

Topic: Partnerships vs traditional relationships

CIPS L4M6 Study Guide – Relationship types and behaviours

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:

Arestricted marketis characterized by:

High entry barriers: Significant capital investment, stringent regulatory requirements, or specialized knowledge needed to enter the market.

Limited profitability: Existing suppliers may operate on thin margins, deterring new entrants.

These factors result in a market with few competent and capable suppliers, limiting competition and options for buyers.

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.

In stakeholder management,Negative leadersandPromoterspossess high influence over others:

Negative leaders: Individuals who oppose the project and can sway others against it due to their influence.

Promoters: Advocates who support the project and can positively influence others.

Understanding these dynamics is crucial for effectively managing stakeholder resistance.

As highlighted in the CIPS study materials:

"Overcoming resistance- Promoters - They have a high influence on other stakeholders and support the project. They support and empower."

Explanation

In an adversarial relationship "the outcome of the deal… is more important than maintaining the relationship over a long-term period" p.7. They can be characterised by poor communication and can be used for one-off purchases but be careful for words in answers such as 'only' and 'always', as these can be misleading; adversarial relationships aren't always for one-off purchases, and communication isn't always poor. The other answer is incorrect (price is more important) because it doesn't describe the relationship, which is what the question asked.

Explanation

The logistics risk can be reduced by ‘Sharing up-to-date information’. If the Pub tells the supplier when it’s running low, they can then time the deliveries more accurately. P. 136. A lot of the questions on the ‘Partnerships’ chapters of the book are common-sense questions like this. It involves reading thequestion and using logic, rather than relying on your knowledge of procurement. If you found this question easy – that’s a good sign for the exam.

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.

The Restricted and Two-stage procedures involve a PQQ stage to shortlist suppliers before issuing an ITT. This approach is common for contracts requiring stringent supplier qualifications.

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.

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘no-the contract is not of significant value’. CIPS state that competitive tenders should only be used when ‘the item or service is of significant value’ p.73. Debbie could continue using the same supplier, but she should organise a contract extension or a new contract if she does.

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.

Partnerships are built on trust and transparency, with shared benefits such as cost reductions and improved processes. Adversarial relationships, in contrast, focus on price and contractual obligations.

Explanation

In an oliogopy, supplier power is strong. Sometimes regulators are required in the market to prevent the group of suppliers conspiring together to artificially increase prices. See p.40 for more information on Oligopy markets.

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

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.

In CIPS L4M6, supply risk is analysed alongside financial risk. Expensive and technically complex items are frequently bespoke or highly specialised, meaning that:

There are few alternative suppliers

Switching suppliers is difficult, costly, or impossible

This significantly increases supply risk, not reduces it. While financial risk is high due to value and complexity, supply risk is also high due to dependency and limited market availability.

The incorrect options misunderstand supply risk:

Single sourcing increases supply risk

Easy switching is rarely possible for complex supplies

High-value complex items never carry low combined risk

L4M6 Reference:

Learning Outcome 2: Understand supply chain risk and resilience

Topic: Financial risk vs supply risk

CIPS L4M6 Study Guide – Risk positioning and Kraljic portfolio thinking

Routine suppliers typically supply low-value, low-risk items. Maintaining partnerships in such cases is inefficient since alternative suppliers are readily available. Adopting a transactional or adversarial relationship would be more appropriate.

Explanation

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

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.

Value-added benefits are additional services offered by suppliers that enhance the buyer’s operations without significant additional cost. These typically include:

Free training (A) – improves buyer staff skills.

Customer service hotlines (C) – improves responsiveness and support.

Expert consulting services (D) – provides specialist knowledge.

Options B, E, and F are operational necessities, not “value-added extras.”

Obtaining multiple quotations ensures value for money by comparing suppliers based on cost, quality, and other criteria. It promotes competitive pricing and informed decision-making.

Arranging a meeting to clarify roles and setting performance targets provides clear expectations and encourages accountability. This aligns with CIPS guidelines on managing conflicts through constructive engagement.

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

An amicable termination approach focuses on maintaining goodwill and professionalism when ending a contract. According to CIPS guidance, it is most appropriate in situations where:

The pool of alternative suppliers is small (1): Maintaining good relations is important to preserve future sourcing options. Burning bridges could reduce available suppliers in the future.

The buyer must continue working with the supplier during the notice/termination period (2): An amicable approach ensures cooperation during transition and avoids disruption to operations.

By contrast:

Arm’s-length relationships (3) are transactional and generally require less concern about relationship preservation.

Material breaches (4) usually justify a firmer legal termination approach, rather than amicable negotiation.

Thus, the correct circumstances for an amicable style termination are 1 and 2.

Explanation

The correct answers are information sharing and trust. Further qualitative KPIs are listed on p.102. Deliveries in full and on time would be a quantitative KPI and early supplier involvement is not a KPI at all.

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

Explanation

The correct answer is ‘A situation when the apparent output from collaboration is considerably less than expected’. This is verbatim the definition given in the study guide on p.166 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.

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

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Traditional contracting agreements are typically characterized by:

Short-Term Focus:These agreements often prioritize immediate needs over long-term collaboration.

Transactional Nature:Emphasis is on price and terms rather than building strategic 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.

Technological factors play a pivotal role in IT equipment supply chains. Advancements, obsolescence, and innovation significantly affect production, cost, and competitiveness, making it a primary focus in supply chain development.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Extending the notice period in a mutual termination for convenience clause provides the buyer with additional time to:

Identify and engage alternative suppliers

Ensure continuity of supply

Mitigate risks associated with abrupt contract termination

This proactive approach aligns with best practices in contract management, allowing for smoother transitions and minimizing potential disruptions.

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.

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.

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.

When procuring critical components essential for the continuity of manufacturing processes, timely delivery becomes paramount. Delays can halt production lines, leading to significant financial losses.Therefore, the supplier's ability to meet delivery deadlines is the key selection criterion, as emphasized in the CIPS L4M6 study guide.

Explanation

This is a leverage supplier on the Kraljic Matrix; high cost impact and low risk impact. The diagram on p.20 gives the example of utility services such as electricity as a common leverage supplier. 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

Value for money in the private sector is about achieving shareholder profit and busines benefit (p.66). In the public sector it is about ensuring taxpayers’ money is spent wisely. Value for money is a mixture of price and quality.

Competitive dialogue is the most appropriate method for complex, high-value procurements where requirements cannot be fully defined at the outset. This process allows dialogue with shortlisted bidders to refine specifications and negotiate solutions before awarding. CIPS states that this procedure is particularly suited for projects requiring flexibility, multiple negotiation phases, and innovative input from suppliers.

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

This is category 'A' spend in the ABC model - they represent a large value and a small number of purchases / suppliers. See p.17 for more information on the ABC Analysis