L3M1 Procurement and Supply Environments Question and Answers

Explanation

Payment (the implication here is 'in full') 60 days after delivery allows the buying organisation time to check the goods carefully, and possibly even use them in that time.

All of the other options would require the buyer to part with money prior to holding the goods, thus exposing that sum to risk. The least risky from the buyer's viewpoint is therefore after 60 days.

Particularly hazardous would be payment at time of order.

Explanation

This is a practice associated with some very close commercial relationships, in which each party has a high level of trust with the other.

'Open book costing' would be the seller revealing its costs to the buyer, without reciprocation.

Explanation

Government decisions and actions regarding the level of interest rates and supply of money in the economy.

Fiscal policy relates to taxation and its relationship to government expenditure.

The other two suggested answers: exchange rates and unemployment rates are a factor of other poli-cies; the size of coins and banknotes is beyond the scope of your syllabus and my knowledge. :)

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

This a definition of liquidated damages. Calculated in advance of the event occurring ie pre-contract and thus agreed by the parties in advance. Meaningful advance calculations (estimates) must be available to enforce legally.

The term and the spirit of 'penalty clause' is discouraged in English law - damages should be aimed at returning the damaged party back into the position they would have been in, had a wrong not been done.

Unliquidated damages can only be awarded by a court after the event, and should not be relied up-on.

An example of a quantum meruit award can be found in the British Steel v Cleveland Bridge (1984) case - a rare occurrence, and again something which must not be relied upon.

Explanation

Exchange rate fluctuations and escalating materials costs can both substantially impact on a contract price. Where a contract has been drafted to allow for it, the price may be adjusted in line with some pre-agreed mechanism or formula to make the price paid more equitable.

Quality problems of the supplier's own making and shareholders seeking extra profit - neither being uncommon - are not seen as being grounds for adjusting price (upwards).

I should mention that price adjustment clauses can result in prices being adjusted either upwards or downwards, or not at all, depending on circumstances.

Explanation

This is true: the liability of shareholders is limited to their agreed financial commitment, not beyond that.

Explanation

A competitive exercise is being referred to, in which the seller is under competitive pressure to try to win the business, yet not charge so much they don't win the business. This is commonly known as a 'tender', or 'tender exercise'; also 'competitive bidding' etc.

It is this desire to win profitable business, restricted by an upper limit on price because of competitor behaviour, that forces suppliers to be competitive with their prices. This tension between the bid-der's desire for profit; and the need to be realistic with price, explains why the competitive approach is so highly valued in procurement.

Explanation

There is an expression 'painshare' which is an almost-ironic term referring to the opposite of the situ-ation described in the QUESTION NO: - when something has gone wrong, and the additional cost must be shared between the parties. The other two answers are a little bit facetious.

The correct answer is 'gainshare' when the parties share benefits, according to a pre-agreed ratio or formula.

Explanation

This should be an easy question.

If you are unfamiliar with any of these terms, return to your textbook soon.

The RFQ is the action taken by procurement often, further to the requisition and other necessary documentation.

Explanation

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

The others shown are renewables.

Explanation

Agriculture and tourism are normally associated with high levels of seasonal employment, and hence to some extent, unemployment.

Construction also often has an element of seasonality. For example, there is a saying in Alaska: 'there are two seasons - winter and construction', although in some less extreme climates construc-tion carries on year-round.

In most situations, we normally expect police employment levels to be relatively consistent through-out the year.

Explanation

This is simply false. Partnerships are normally unincorporated profit-oriented organisations eg ac-countants, lawyers, many consultancies, some retailers, etc. One significant factor about partnerships is that individuals' capital is normally at risk, unlike in limited companies, where the risk is limited.

Explanation

Demographics now seen as being a part of STEEPLED.

The other terms shown have nothing to do with this topic and are simply fillers.

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

The vertical axis (the y-axis) of the product life cycle diagram could correctly show all three, and might commonly show losses and / or investment in the early stage(s).

Explanation

We are now aware that the cost of externalities to society are considerable. A simple example would be that proximity to flow of motor vehicles is likely to increase ill-health requiring state-funded medical services where they exist, to treat at state (taxpayers') expense those who become ill. In the UK the number of people affected this way is believed to be numbered in the tens of thousands an-nually. Thus some businesses' cost structures do not reflect their true cost to society.

Another example would be the discharge of untreated waste into rivers or the sea, where the com-panies undertaking these activities may not be contributing financially to the cleaning up required.

In future years there is likely to be much debate about this, as some people will attempt to find ways to make companies pay the full cost of running their businesses.

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

Because a wide range of organisations (or even individuals) may respond to an open tender, consid-erable administrative resource may have to be devoted to analysing offers.

Explanation

It is important, for the reasons given in the three correct answers.

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

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

Competitive rivalry within an industry.

This can be quite an important point, and why I have such a dislike of the less formal title for the model - the model is about entire industries, not just about a single firm - this is commonly misun-derstood by students (and sadly, some tutors) - and the original Porter title - 'Industry Structure Analysis' - helps us understand that, I think. I find this tool of analysis to be very helpful in under-standing behaviour within sectors, despite criticism of the model and its age from some commenta-tors

The other answers shown are mere fictions.

Explanation

All answers are correct. Each of these areas can create safety hazards for people in the workplace, and so in many countries government legislation has been passed to make these topics subject to regulation.

For example, within the UK, it is mandatory for employers to provide compulsory training for em-ployees who may be involved in lifting heavy items, and there are limits placed on the weight which can be handled by any one person. In many cases, mechanised lifting equipment is used to aid or replace humans.