Free CIPS L5M6 Practice Test & Real Exam Questions
Jam Incorporated requires raw materials to be delivered from suppliers. One particular ingredient is a high supply risk and the strategy of the company is to hold inventory as a contingency. Which type of item is this?
Correct Answer: D
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Category Strategy Development is composed of 4 key stages. Which of the following is the correct order?
Correct Answer: A
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Frankie Burgers operates in the UK and USA. One supplier holds a monopoly, but the item supplied is low cost. According to the Kraljic Matrix, which type of item is this?
Correct Answer: D
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When completing a tender exercise, in addition to price and quality, which factors may also be considered?
Correct Answer: C
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What are the three main enablers of successful Category Management?
Correct Answer: B,D,E
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XYZ Ltd is a manufacturing organisation based in the UK. They work with many suppliers of both direct and indirect goods. Below is a selection of four suppliers XYZ procures items from:
* Supplier 1: The sole supplier of a critical item for production. Market research shows no substitute exists. XYZ is a price taker, not a price setter.
* Supplier 2: Long-term relationship. Working together to reduce costs. Item has a high impact on profit but low supply risk.
* Supplier 3: Indirect items like stationery with little profit impact. Meetings focus on bulk discounts.
* Supplier 4: One-off capital expenditure item. Months of negotiations with supplier to reduce costs before manufacture begins.
Task:
Complete the table below. You are required, for each supplier, to determine the Cost Approach taken by XYZ Ltd and to identify the Item Type based on the Kraljic Matrix. Each response should only be used once.
* Supplier 1: The sole supplier of a critical item for production. Market research shows no substitute exists. XYZ is a price taker, not a price setter.
* Supplier 2: Long-term relationship. Working together to reduce costs. Item has a high impact on profit but low supply risk.
* Supplier 3: Indirect items like stationery with little profit impact. Meetings focus on bulk discounts.
* Supplier 4: One-off capital expenditure item. Months of negotiations with supplier to reduce costs before manufacture begins.
Task:
Complete the table below. You are required, for each supplier, to determine the Cost Approach taken by XYZ Ltd and to identify the Item Type based on the Kraljic Matrix. Each response should only be used once.
Correct Answer:
Explanation:
Supplier 1 # Price Acceptance + Bottleneck
Supplier 1 is the sole supplier of a critical item, and XYZ has confirmed through market research that there are no substitutes available. This places Supplier 1 in the Bottleneck quadrant of the Kraljic Matrix, which is defined by high supply risk but low profit impact (or limited ability to influence price). In bottleneck situations, buyers have limited leverage, making them price takers rather than price setters.
That's why the appropriate cost approach here is Price Acceptance-XYZ must accept the price dictated by the supplier because of the absence of alternatives. Procurement's role becomes risk mitigation, ensuring continuity of supply rather than focusing on negotiation power. The recommended strategies include maintaining strong supplier relationships, holding safety stock, and monitoring supply risks. Price cannot be influenced significantly, so procurement must accept the terms, reflecting a bottleneck scenario.
(Ref: CIPS L5M6 Study Guide, pp.80-83, 97-100 - Cost ApproachesKraljic Matrix) Supplier 2 # Cost Down + Leverage Supplier 2 provides items that, while not purchased in large volumes, have a high impact on profit and carry a low supply risk. These characteristics fit into the Leverage quadrant of the Kraljic Matrix: high profit impact, low risk. In such cases, buyers hold strong bargaining power and can use competition or collaborative cost reduction measures to secure better value. The chosen cost approach here is Cost Down, which involves working with suppliers to systematically reduce costs without reducing value. XYZ's long-term relationship with Supplier 2, combined with a focus on identifying where costs could be lowered, matches the cost-down philosophy. Examples might include value engineering, supplier process improvements, or volume consolidation. Leverage items are ideal for competitive sourcing, e-auctions, and bulk negotiation. By applying a cost-down approach, XYZ can ensure sustained profitability while keeping supply risk under control.
(Ref: CIPS L5M6 Study Guide, pp.80-81, 97-100 - Cost ManagementLeverage items) Supplier 3 # Price Management + Non-Critical Supplier 3 provides indirect goods such as stationery, which have little impact on company profits and are purchased regularly in small quantities. These fit into the Non-Critical quadrant of the Kraljic Matrix, which is characterised by low profit impact and low supply risk. In these cases, procurement's focus should be on administrative efficiency and price management, rather than extensive strategic negotiations. The chosen cost approach here is Price Management, since XYZ meets with the supplier regularly to discuss pricing and bulk discounts. This approach ensures that, although the spend is low-value, the company avoids unnecessary waste or inflated costs. Tools such as catalogues, e-procurement systems, or framework agreements are commonly used in this quadrant to manage spend efficiently. Price management helps free up procurement resources for more strategic categories while still ensuring best value in non-critical areas.
(Ref: CIPS L5M6 Study Guide, pp.80-82, 97 - Non-critical items and price management) Supplier 4 # Cost Out + Strategic Supplier 4 is supplying a one-off capital expenditure item. XYZ has engaged in months of negotiations regarding specifications, and both parties are collaborating to reduce costs before manufacturing begins.
This aligns perfectly with the Strategic quadrant of the Kraljic Matrix, where items have high profit impact and high supply risk. Strategic items require strong, long-term partnerships and close supplier collaboration. The appropriate cost approach here is Cost Out, which focuses on eliminating unnecessary costs during the design and specification stages, before production. This proactive approach ensures that efficiency and value are embedded in the product from the outset. Cost-out strategies often involve redesign, engineering collaboration, and innovation to reduce total cost of ownership. In such relationships, trust and partnership are critical, since both buyer and supplier must work together to achieve shared value and risk reduction.
(Ref: CIPS L5M6 Study Guide, pp.80, 97-99 - Strategic items and Cost-Out approach)
Randoxx Ltd is a manufacturing company which has four main categories of expenditure:
* Category 1: The market of this category is highly innovative and has rapidly changed over the past five years. There are many suppliers who provide similar products at similar price points.
* Category 2: This category of spend is for highly specialised products and it is important to Randoxx that the products are carbon neutral. Because of this, there is a reduced number of suppliers who provide products to this category and Randoxx has little influence over the price that they pay.
* Category 3: This category of spend is for natural resources which are only found in very few parts of the world. Because of this Randoxx imports all of these items from one country abroad and currency fluctuations have a huge impact on the profit margin of this category spend.
* Category 4: This is a highly technical product which has a patent. It is used in the creation of laptops and phones and it would be impossible to make these with a different product. Due to the growing population Randoxx forecasts that demand for this product will increase.
Task:
Complete the table below by identifying each category's Porter's Force driver and STEEPLE factor challenge. Each response should be used only once.
* Category 1: The market of this category is highly innovative and has rapidly changed over the past five years. There are many suppliers who provide similar products at similar price points.
* Category 2: This category of spend is for highly specialised products and it is important to Randoxx that the products are carbon neutral. Because of this, there is a reduced number of suppliers who provide products to this category and Randoxx has little influence over the price that they pay.
* Category 3: This category of spend is for natural resources which are only found in very few parts of the world. Because of this Randoxx imports all of these items from one country abroad and currency fluctuations have a huge impact on the profit margin of this category spend.
* Category 4: This is a highly technical product which has a patent. It is used in the creation of laptops and phones and it would be impossible to make these with a different product. Due to the growing population Randoxx forecasts that demand for this product will increase.
Task:
Complete the table below by identifying each category's Porter's Force driver and STEEPLE factor challenge. Each response should be used only once.
Correct Answer:
Explanation:
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Category 1: Highly innovative, many suppliers with similar products at similar price points
* Porter's Force: Competitive Rivalry - High
* STEEPLE Factor: Technological
Explanation (150-200 words):
Category 1 operates in a market that is highly innovative and subject to rapid technological change.
Innovation means suppliers are constantly developing new features or solutions, making technology the primary STEEPLE factor. Additionally, because there are many suppliers offering similar products at similar price points, competitive rivalry is intense. Buyers can switch easily, and suppliers must compete aggressively on features, pricing, and differentiation.
This combination of high rivalry and technological change creates both opportunity and risk for Randoxx.
On one hand, innovation drives new solutions that can be leveraged; on the other hand, it increases pressure to manage supplier relationships strategically. Randoxx must monitor technological trends closely while maintaining competitive sourcing strategies to manage this highly dynamic category.
(Ref: CIPS L5M6 Study Guide - Porter's Five Forces, p.112-116; STEEPLED Analysis, p.109)
On the BCG Matrix, what is a cash cow?
Correct Answer: C
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Bellatricks Ltd has four main categories of spend, each headed by a Category Manager. Below is a brief outline of each:
* Category Manager 1: Has a PhD and 15 years' experience. Very competent in developing specifications. Persuasion style built on knowledge, facts, and science.
* Category Manager 2: Meets deadlines, identifies actions, achieves goals. Assertive, self-assured, articulate.
* Category Manager 3: Strong soft skills, relates well to people, builds supplier relationships.
Motivates others by being passionate and creating shared purpose.
* Category Manager 4: Creative thinker, anticipates market changes, produces quick solutions. In negotiations, they see problems from multiple perspectives.
Task:
Complete the table by identifying each Category Manager's competency and style of persuasion when negotiating with suppliers. Each response should only be used once.
* Category Manager 1: Has a PhD and 15 years' experience. Very competent in developing specifications. Persuasion style built on knowledge, facts, and science.
* Category Manager 2: Meets deadlines, identifies actions, achieves goals. Assertive, self-assured, articulate.
* Category Manager 3: Strong soft skills, relates well to people, builds supplier relationships.
Motivates others by being passionate and creating shared purpose.
* Category Manager 4: Creative thinker, anticipates market changes, produces quick solutions. In negotiations, they see problems from multiple perspectives.
Task:
Complete the table by identifying each Category Manager's competency and style of persuasion when negotiating with suppliers. Each response should only be used once.
Correct Answer:
Explanation:
Category Manager 1 # Competency: Functional Expert | Persuasion: Logic
This manager has a PhD, 15 years' experience and is confident developing specifications. That profile maps directly to Functional Expert-deep technical knowledge, standards, and specification ownership. In persuasion terms, the description "strong product knowledge, facts and science" signals a Logic style:
arguments are evidence-led (data, benchmarks, test results, TCO calculations). In supplier negotiations, this type will frame proposals around measurable outcomes and compliance to technical requirements, using structured evaluations and objective criteria. The benefit is credibility and clarity; the risk is over-focusing on technical detail at the expense of relationship nuance. In category work, this style suits complex, specification- driven buys (e.g., engineered components, regulated goods) where accuracy and verification matter most.
Category Manager 2 # Competency: Results Seeker | Persuasion: Confidence
"Meets deadlines, identifies actions, achieves goals; assertive, self-assured, articulate" are classic Results Seeker cues-task focus, milestone discipline, outcome accountability. The persuasion tone is Confidence:
clear asks, firm positions, and decisive proposals. In supplier meetings, this manager will set SMART targets (cost down %, on-time delivery, lead-time reduction), drive cadence (QBRs, action logs), and hold parties to commitments. The upside is momentum and delivery; the watch-out is risking supplier defensiveness if assertiveness isn't balanced with listening. This pairing works well for leverage or non-critical categories where execution speed, price movement and service levels are the primary value drivers.
Category Manager 3 # Competency: Influencer | Persuasion: Inspire
"Strong soft-skills... builds effective relationships... motivates others by being passionate and creating a shared sense of purpose" signals Influencer-credible relationship builder who aligns stakeholders and suppliers. Their persuasion style is Inspire: appeal to shared goals (innovation, sustainability, growth), energise cross-functional teams, and co-create solutions. In supplier negotiations, they'll use vision statements, win-win framing, and recognition to unlock discretionary effort (e.g., co-development, cost-out workshops, service transformation). Strengths include engagement, change adoption and long-term partnership value; risks include under-weighting hard trade-offs if not supported by clear commercial guardrails. This pairing excels in strategic or transformation initiatives where collaboration is the multiplier.
Category Manager 4 # Competency: Innovator | Persuasion: Empathy
"Creative thinker... anticipates rapid changes... produces solutions quickly... sees problems from multiple points of view" matches Innovator-future-oriented, options-generating, comfortable with ambiguity. The persuasion fit is Empathy: actively understanding counterpart drivers (capacity, risk, margin pressures), connecting dots between perspectives, and shaping proposals that address mutual needs. In practice, this manager will run design-thinking workshops, scenario planning, and pilot trials, using supplier insights to re- frame requirements (e.g., modular specs, alternative materials, new service models). The advantage is differentiated value and resilience; the risk is scope drift if ideas aren't prioritised rigorously. This pairing is powerful in volatile markets and for categories needing redesign, sustainability shifts or new tech adoption.
In Category Management, often a small number of categories can be responsible for a large proportion of spend. What is this principle commonly known as? Select TWO.
Correct Answer: B,D
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