L4M4 Exam Dumps - CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply Questions and Answers

Commodity Price Indices track movements in the prices of raw materials such as metals, oil, and agricultural products. Since copper is a traded commodity, changes in its market price can be independently verified through commodity indices. This allows buyers to validate supplier claims objectively and ensure price increases are justified and transparent. Purchasing Managers’ Index measures business confidence, CPI measures consumer inflation, and stock indices reflect equity performance rather than raw material costs. Ethical and responsible sourcing requires procurement professionals to use reliable market data to challenge unjustified price increases and maintain fairness in supplier negotiations.

In an open tender process, any supplier can submit a bid, and there is no pre-qualification stage. This approach is suitable when the requirements are well-defined, and there is a sufficient number of suppliers in the market to ensure competition. However, if too many suppliers respond, it can lead to an overwhelming number of bids to evaluate. Therefore, it's essential to consider the number of potential suppliers in the market before opting for an open tender.

Exact Extract from Study Guide:

"Open procedure – used for well-specified requirements and there is no pre-qualification of bidders. Many suppliers could submit a bid, which could result in lots of bids to assess, so the open procedure is normally only used where the number of potential bidders is expected to be relatively low."

Explanation

Open tenders should be used when the buyer expects there to be little interest / fewer bids. The opportunity is advertised widely allowing any supplier that wishes to submit a bid the opportunity.

The other options limit the number of suppliers and Ji Yuan doesn't want to do that, because he risks getting no interest and no supplier.

P.23

Credit rating agencies assess an organisation’s financial stability and risk of default. Key data includes financial obligations (such as outstanding loans, debt levels, repayment schedules) and payment history (how reliably the firm pays creditors and suppliers). These indicators show liquidity, cash flow reliability, and debt servicing ability. Factors such as “value for money” or “ecosystems” are irrelevant in a financial risk context. Responsible sourcing requires buyers to consider supplier financial resilience, as instability could disrupt supply chains, increase risk exposure, and lead to reputational damage. Agencies like Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch provide independent assessments that complement in-house financial analysis.

Outsourcing critical functions like cybersecurity can lead to a loss of in-house expertise, which is a strategic cost. This loss may impact the organization's ability to respond swiftly to security threats, innovate, and maintain control over sensitive operations. Retaining core competencies is vital for sustaining competitive advantage and ensuring long-term resilience.

Exact Extract from Study Guide:

"Outsourcing core activities risks – loss of in-house skill, loss of key staff to competitors, risk that supplier cannot be found, loss of control over operating activities, risk of loss of control over confidential information/IP.

Compliance with fair trade standards demonstrates the supplier's commitment to social responsibility, including fair wages and ethical working conditions. This aligns with responsible sourcing practices, ensuring that suppliers maintain ethical labor standards, as advocated in the principles of ethical sourcing.

Defining corrective actions and running supplier development programs are effective remedial actions following an audit. These approaches support continuous improvement, aligning with responsible sourcing by helping suppliers meet ethical and performance standards.

Payment history and financial stress scores provide insights into a supplier’s financial health and stability. This information is crucial for procurement professionals in assessing whether a supplier can fulfill long-term commitments, supporting responsible sourcing by mitigating financial risks.

Explanation

ILO = the International Labour Organisation.

ISO is the International Standardisation Organisation- they also come up in this exam.

Fair Trade is about paying suppliers properly.

WWF is the World Wildlife Foundation, or if you watched wrestling in the 90s, the original WWE. You do not need to know about wildlife or wrestling for this exam.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average change over time in the prices paid by consumers for a market basket of goods and services. It reflects price variations in specific geographical locations and tracks the weighted average prices of selected commodities, providing insights into inflation and cost of living.

Exact Extract from Study Guide:

"The Consumer Price Index (CPI) tracks variations in prices for a range of consumer goods and services over time, in a particular geographic location."