Selected CORE CPSM Questions Answers

The best course of action for the university is to conduct an RFx (Request for Proposal/Information/Quote) stating the new requirements and including migration costs in the evaluation criteria. This approach ensures a comprehensive evaluation of both the new and existing suppliers based on the updated requirements and all associated costs, including migration. It allows the university to make a well-informed decision based on a holistic view of costs, benefits, and potential risks, ensuring transparency and competitiveness in the selection process.

References:

CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply). (2021). Procurement and Supply Chain Management.

Kraljic, P. (1983). Purchasing must become supply management. Harvard Business Review.

The willingness of a supplier to deal with rejected materials, manage order surges, and provide technical support is greatly influenced by the relationship they have with the buying organization.

Creating teaming agreements with suppliers: This can formalize collaboration but does not inherently foster goodwill and responsiveness.

Negotiating inclusive terms and conditions: Important for clarity and expectations, but it is the relationship that often determines the supplier’s extra effort.

Maintaining good supplier relationships: Strong relationships encourage suppliers to go above and beyond the contractual requirements, fostering a sense of partnership and mutual support.

Including such conditions in the statement of work: Ensures these terms are contractually agreed but does not guarantee the supplier’s proactive engagement.

Thus, the most influential factor is maintaining good supplier relationships.

References:

Supplier relationship management best practices.

Articles on the impact of relationship management in supply chains.

Rejecting Supplier X's offer (Option C) is the best course of action. Once a contract has been awarded through a formal RFP process, reopening or renegotiating after the award undermines the integrity of the procurement process and can lead to legal and ethical issues. Escalating to executive management (Option A) or withdrawing the award (Option D) could disrupt established procurement protocols and fairness. Reopening the RFP (Option B) would compromise the transparency and fairness of the initial process.

References:

Ethical Guidelines in Supply Management

RFP Process Best Practices

Adopting Category Management: Executive support has been obtained to implement category management.

Key Step: Conducting a spend and forecast analysis is crucial to understanding current expenditures and future needs.

Spend Analysis: Helps in identifying how much is spent in different categories and areas of potential savings.

Forecast Analysis: Projects future needs based on historical data, market trends, and organizational goals, ensuring that the categories are managed effectively.

References

CIPS. (n.d.). Category Management: Best Practices.

ISM. (n.d.). Conducting Spend Analysis for Effective Procurement.