CPIM-Part-2 Exam Dumps : Certified in Planning and Inventory Management(Part 2)

A fishbone diagram, also known as a cause-and-effect diagram or an Ishikawa diagram, is a tool for identifying and analyzing the possible causes of a problem or an effect. It is often used in quality management to find the root causes of defects or errors. A fishbone diagram has a main branch that represents the problem or effect, and several sub-branches that represent the categories of causes, such as people, processes, equipment, materials, environment, etc. Each category can have further sub-branches that represent more specific causes. A fishbone diagram would help a service organization determine the source of a quality-of-service issue by allowing them to visualize and organize the potential factors that contribute to the problem and identify the most likely cause. References: CPIM Part 2 Exam Content Manual, Domain 8: Manage Quality, Continuous Improvement, and Technology, Section 8.1: Quality Management Concepts and Tools, p. 59-60.

Product price is most effective in influencing demand in the introduction phase of the product life cycle. The product life cycle is a concept that describes the stages that a product goes through fromits development to its decline. The introduction phase is the first stage, when the product is launched into the market and consumers are made aware of its existence and benefits. In this phase, product price can have a significant impact on the demand for the product, depending on the following factors:

• The degree of product innovation: If the product is highly innovative and offers a unique value proposition to customers, it may have a high price elasticity of demand, meaning that customers are willing to pay a high price for it regardless of the availability of substitutes or competitors1. This is often the case for products that create a new market or category, such as the iPhone or the Kindle2. On the other hand, if the product is not very innovative and offers a similar value proposition to existing products, it may have a low price elasticity of demand, meaning that customers are sensitive to price changes and will switch to cheaper alternatives or competitors if the price is too high1. This is often the case for products that enter an existing market or category, such as generic drugs or copycat products3.
• The degree of market competition: If the product faces little or no competition in the market, it may have more pricing power and flexibility, meaning that it can charge a high price and still generate high demand4. This is often the case for products that have a strong brand image, a loyal customer base, or a patent protection5. On the other hand, if the product faces high competition in the market, it may have less pricing power and flexibility, meaning that it has to charge a low price or offer discounts and promotions to attract and retain customers4. This is often the case for products that have a weak brand image, a low customer loyalty, or a short product life cycle.

Therefore, product price can be an effective tool to influence demand in the introduction phase of the product life cycle, depending on how innovative and competitive the product is. A high price can signal quality, exclusivity, and differentiation, while a low price can signal affordability, accessibility, and penetration.

References: Price Elasticity of Demand - Definition & Formula - Corporate Finance Institute; Product Life Cycle Explained: Stage and Examples - Investopedia; Generic Drugs - Overview - Mayo Clinic; Pricing Strategies For The Product Life Cycle (Made Simple) - Tyonote; Brand Image - Definition & Examples - Marketing Tutor; [Customer Loyalty - Definition & Examples - Marketing Tutor].

Compared to traditional supplier relationships, a more strategic view of supplier relationships would require maintaining communication based on trust. Trust is a key factor that enables effective collaboration, information sharing, problem solving, and innovation between supply chain partners12. Trust can also reduce transaction costs, conflicts, and opportunism, and increase commitment, loyalty, and performance34. Therefore, maintaining communication based on trust is essential for developing and sustaining strategic supplier relationships that can create value and competitive advantage for both parties.

The other options are not necessarily required for a more strategic view of supplier relationships, because they are either insufficient or irrelevant. Offering the supplier more business may increase the volume or frequency of transactions, but it does not guarantee a more strategic or long-term relationship. Adopting electronic data interchange (EDI) may improve the efficiency or accuracy of information exchange, but it does not ensure a more collaborative or innovative relationship. Implementing concurrent engineering may enhance the product design or development process, but it does not address the other aspects of a strategic relationship, such as quality, delivery, or risk management.