L3M1 Procurement and Supply Environments Questions and Answers

Explanation

Social and technological are part of STEEPLED: they were also part of PEST, the forerunner to STEEPLED.

The other two words shown as possible answers are included because they sound a bit like 'econom-ic' and 'demographic', which would also be correct answers, had they been included here.

Read the QUESTION NO: carefully.

Explanation

Coal and oil are the correct answers. These are finite resources and will run out some day.

The others shown are renewables.

Explanation

A well-known measure of carbon footprint.

Procurement professionals are encouraged to incorporate environmentally-friendly thinking into their workplace activities and decision-making.

Explanation

Continuously scanning the environment can bring rewards in the form of new supply companies, new products and services, awareness of supply firm or industry difficulties, etc.

Purchasing research is a very close answer to the correct one, but is likely to be more focussed, spe-cific.

If faced with a difficult choice as to which of two options in the exam is correct, think about what was included as part of your syllabus.

In this case, environmental scanning is the first entry in your Learning Outcome 3.1

Explanation

In 2015 an agreement was reached in Paris, France among most world nations to try to limit climate change and its effects.

The other answers shown are simply fictions.

Explanation

Third sector organisations often rely on charitable contributions. An example might be Medecins Sans Frontieres.

They also sometimes receive grants from taxpayers, sometimes in return for work done eg the chari-ty Barnardo's receive government funding in return for advising the British government on man-agement of some children in its care.

Finally some NFPs have, for example, retail outlets which generate income to aid the organisation. Oxfam is such an example.

Third sector can be expected to ster clear of certain areas for ethical reasons. Alcohol, gambling, to-bacco, and weapons are examples.

Explanation

In the not-for-profit sector, funding often comes from external sources or donors. The beneficiaries of the services are often beneficiaries of services because they don't have funds eg the homeless, the poor, the sick, etc

Thus in this sector, the 'paymaster' is often separated from the recipient of services provided, which has implications for the management of such organisations.

Which is the priority? The one providing funding; or the one receiving the services?

Explanation

It was Milton Friedman who promoted this view in the second half of the 20th century. This view is now less popular than it was. 'The business of business is business' is another famous quote from Professor Friedman, meaning profit maximisation is what business should be concerned with, not broader social or welfare issues. This thinking takes the view that governments can legislate as nec-essary to cater for society's needs, funding such activities from taxation placed on successful profit-able businesses.

Milton Keynes is a place in UK; J M Keynes was a famous economist who took a different view to Friedman's and John Milton is a famous 17th century English poet.

Explanation

The correct answer is 'taxpayers'. On occasion, part of a public sector organisation may make sales which will generate revenue. In some mega-projects (eg power generation), public sector bodies will sometimes into long-term arrangements with private sector financiers, but this is not the mainstream. Delaying payments to suppliers is a tactic used by some organisations, but they are more likely to be private sector, and such a practice is regarded as unethical by many, including CIPS.

Explanation

This should be an easy QUESTION NO:. The definition describes nicely one possible form of cost-based price. It is important to try to be able to distinguish cost from price.

The 'target cost incentive' method of pricing might have been tempting as an answer, since the defi-nition shown mentions cost, but it mentions neither target nor incentive, and can therefore be ruled out.

And whole life cost is a different concept altogether.

Explanation

An easy question.

Price is what the customer will pay for goods or services eg fifty dollars; payment terms are the ar-rangements under which you pay the price eg in advance, on delivery, 30 days, 60 days, etc.

Although this may seem rather obvious, I have encountered a surprising number of people who seem to confuse the two.

Explanation

Shareholders are one example of a range of stakeholders in a private or public limited company.

Explanation

Both customers and shareholders are core stakeholders of a private sector organisation, although this fact appears to be somewhat diluted in the minds of some modern-day academics and commenta-tors. The shareholders are the owners of the business - it is for them that everyone is working and their objective is invariably profit. The profit is derived fromreligiously focusing on another core stakeholder group - the customers. If either of these two stakeholder groups is ignored, it is unlikely that happy times lie ahead.

Explanation

Both wind power and hydro-electric can be used many times over - they are renewable - wind, riv-ers, tides return each day, more or less.

On the other hand, coal, oil as well as wood, turf and gas are non-renewable - that is, there are lim-ited stocks and they will run out.

Many economies are now switching to use of renewables to generate electricity, heat, etc

Explanation

CO2 is the correct answer - carbon dioxide.

CO is carbon monoxide; H20 is water (or steam or ice) and CO3 is carbon trioxide.

Explanation

To gain market share and to create shareholder value (increase the value of shares) are common aims of private sector organisations.

The other two answers are the antithesis of what firms usually want.

Explanation

Social arrangement because it involves people; they have a collective goal eg to be a profitable or-ganisation; and their performance must be controlled to work towards or to achieve that goal / those goals.

Explanation

One of the best ways to combat maverick buying is for procurement to be seen to be doing a good job, reducing the justification in colleagues' minds for going outside the system.

The other terms shown in the answers are simply made up to create the question.

This is your final question in this practice exam - good luck in the real exam!

Explanation

All of these.

Explanation

Sources of funds for private sector commonly include revenues from sales, shareholders and long-term loans. Taxpayers would not normally be thought of as a source of funds for private sector, alt-hough in recent Coronavirus times, in some countries, such as the UK, businesses have received considerable support. But that is abnormal.

Short-term sources such as overdrafts are not to be relied upon on a regular or long-term basis.

Explanation

Corporate Governance. Not to be confused with CSR.

Corporate identity relates to marketing and branding; corporate manslaughter is the concept of an organisation being criminally accountable for the deaths of humans through some lack of care. An example might be the deaths of rail company employees on the railway track, where the prosecution would attempt to show that it was the employers' fault.

Explanation

'Retention' - from the word 'retain', meaning to 'keep in place', 'hold back', 'keep possession of' something (Concise Oxford Dictionary, fifth edition) . In this case, 5% of the contract price.

Explanation

The correct answer simply describes what fiscal policy is.

This topic is often mentioned or discussed in serious radio / TV news broadcasts.

Explanation

The x-axis shows time. For some products, it may represent a year; for others, a century.

The other answers given could all be shown on the y-axis of the PLC, depending on circumstances.