Available courses

This study guide forms part of the Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply qualification and will help you to describe the key elements and legal aspects of formal commercial contracts.

On completion of this study guide you will:

  • Understand the legal issues that relate to the formation of contracts
  • Understand the fundamentals of specifications and key performance indicators that are included in contractual arrangements made with suppliers
  • Understand the key clauses that are included informal contracts

This study guide forms part of the Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply qualification will help you to identify approaches to achieving negotiated commercial agreement with external organisations.

On completion of this study guide you will:

  • Understand key approaches in the negotiation of commercial agreements with external organisations
  • Know how to prepare for negotiations with external organisations
  • Understand how commercial negotiations should be undertaken

This study guide forms part of the Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply qualification and will help you to understand the role of market management and competitive forces of goods and services in procurement and supply.

On completion of this study guide you will:

  • Understand how to devise a business case for requirements to be sourced from external suppliers
  • Understand market management in procurement and supply
  • Understand the use of specifications in procurement and supply

This study guide forms part of the Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply qualification and will help you to explain the options and associated processes available for sourcing with external suppliers.

On completion of this study guide you will:

  • Understand options for sourcing requirements from suppliers
  • Understand the key processes that can be applied to the analysis of potential external suppliers
  • Understand compliance issues when sourcing from suppliers
  • Understand ethical and responsible sourcing

This study guide forms part of the Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply qualification and will help you to demonstrate the practical application of the CIPS procurement cycle, within a workplace context.

On completion of this study guide you will:

  • Understand and be able to demonstrate the application of the procurement cycle
  • Understand and be able to demonstrate the application of the key stages of the sourcing process
  • Understand and be able to demonstrate the application of whole life asset management
  • Understand and be able to demonstrate the application of ethical and responsible sourcing within an organisation

Module purpose: On completion of this module, learners will be able to identify the key stakeholders in the application of the sourcing process and analyse the procurement cycle, evaluating the influence that procurement and supply has as a source of added value for the organisation.

Module aims: In any organisation, a significant proportion of costs are accounted for by the purchases of products and/or services, hence organisations see procurement and supply as a key contributor to their value added strategies. Equally, any organisation will also be managing the supply of products and/or services to their customers, be they internal or those from other external organisations, consumers or the general public. This module is designed using the CIPS Procurement Cycle as its basis. It will provide those who are interested in developing an informed awareness of different perspectives or approaches within the discipline, an overview of the key stages associated with procurement and supply and will serve as an introduction for those who are expected to address complex well-defined procurement and supply problems that are non-routine in nature.

The module also serves as the initial study for learners who are embarking on the CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply, hence coverage is limited to the definition of concepts and ideas as well as to the terminology used in procurement and supply, rather than detailed analysis, evaluation and practical application which will be a feature of later CIPS level 4 modules


This study guide forms part of the Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply qualification and will help you to analyse the dynamics of supplier relationships and the processes and procedures for working with stakeholders.

On completion of this study guide you will:

  • Understand the dynamics of relationships in supply chains
  • Understand processes and procedures for successful working with stakeholders
  • Understand the concept of partnering




This study guide forms part of the Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply qualification and will help you to explain methods of inventory management, inventory analysis and the concept of whole-life asset management costs.

On completion of this study guide you will:

  • Understand methods for the storage and movement of inventory
  • Understand the key elements of effective inventory control
  • Understand the concept of through life cost

Module purpose: On completion of this module, learners will be able to develop measures to ensure and improve contract performance as they assess the concept and use of strategic sourcing and also consider financial aspects that may impact procurement and supply activity.

Module aim: In any organisation, a significant element of the procurement and supply function is based around the contracting process. Those involved in the formulation and management of contracts with external suppliers must therefore have a clear understanding of the strategic nature of contractual performance measures in procurement and supply. Financial management refers to the efficient and effective management of money (funds) to accomplish organisational objectives.

 

·        This module is designed for those working in the procurement and supply field, with responsibility for contracting elements of the procurement and supply function who must also have a strategic awareness of the impact of financial aspects of their discipline.

 


Module purpose: On completion of this module learners will be able to examine the key stages of the negotiation process and the influence of relationships and ethics on the process. They will also assess the methods and behavioural factors which can influence others.

Module aim: Those involved in procurement and supply activity will create and manage formal agreements which will be critical to organisational success. Part of the developmental process for such agreements will rely upon effective negotiations with stakeholders and/or suppliers and also the ability to influence the individuals and groups involved.

This module is designed for those managers who may be faced with preparing for and completing negotiations.

 


This is an elective module in the Advanced Diploma. Module purpose: On completion of this module, learners will be able to evaluate approaches that can be adopted to develop category management of both direct and indirect organisational expenditure and plan for the associated strategic processes.

Module aim: Category management involves applying the end-to-end procurement process to a specific range of goods or services. This involves pre-award processes such as category analysis and demand management, sourcing and contract negotiation, and the post-award processes such as performance management. It is essential that those involved in managing procurement and supply activity can evaluate approaches to develop category management and are able to create process plans which ensure category management success.

This module is designed for those who have responsibility for category management as it focuses on the differing approaches for category management using the tools and techniques which are available to assist with the creation of the associated processes for direct or indirect expenditure.


Module purpose: On completion of this module, learners will be able to understand the concepts of logistics management that link to the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain and explain plans, designs, processes and systems for the improved control or improvement of supply chain logistics.

Module aim: In order to ensure success an organisation must create and adopt processes that ensure the consistent delivery of products and/or services that meet customer demand, both in terms of quantity and quality. This is the responsibility of those who manage the supply chain logistics function.

This module is designed to enable those involved in procurement and supply to assess techniques that are aimed at improving supply chain logistics to the overall benefit of the organisation.

 


Module purpose: On completion of this module, learners will be able to evaluate the legal and process issues relating to the formation of contracts and the legal implications of contractual nonconformance. They will also assess the impacts of breach of contract and examine coping remedies and provisions that are available under such circumstances.

Module aim:  As organisations outsource more and more activity it is vital that they ensure that the associated contracts deliver expected services and/or products. Hence, a fundamental area that those who are tasked with managing the procurement and supply function are faced with is the identification, monitoring and management of contractual risk. This module is designed to enable learners to examine the nature of contract risk and the associated legal implications that relate to contract formation and non-conformance. They will also consider the impact of breach of contract and coping strategies to address such breaches.


Module purpose: On completion of this module, learners will be able to explain the impact of and initiatives to improve, sustainability and the managerial approaches to promote ethical practices in procurement and supply.

Module aim: The global economy and the associated advantages of sourcing from a global base of suppliers requires organisations to be prepared to address the ethical challenges that such approaches may present to their procurement and supply activity. Similarly, the concept of sustainability and its impact on the supply chain should not be underestimated as organisations strive to be seen to play their part in the global agenda.

This module is designed to give those who have managerial responsibility for the procurement and supply function an understanding of the impact of ethics and sustainability on the supply chain, and the opportunity to analyse initiatives to improve practice and ensure organisational compliance with international standards in respect of ethical and sustainable procurement and supply chain management.


Module purpose: On completion of this module, learners will be able to appraise a variety of tools and techniques to establish the level of risk in supply chains and to recommend and apply ways of avoiding, mitigating or managing risk.

Module aim: Risk management is a central part of an organization’s strategy. It is a process whereby the organisation will identify, record and then address the risks associated with their activities with the aim of driving out or controlling those risks to the overall benefit of organisational efficiency and effectiveness. The supply chain is by its very nature a complex activity which is therefore susceptible to risk and its associated impacts.

This module is designed to enable learners to examine the nature of supply chain risk and to evaluate mitigation techniques which are available to them as they deal with the associated challenges. They will undertake risk analysis and consider the advantages of a risk register as they apply a range of appropriate risk management tools and techniques to the supply chain.


Module purpose: On completion of this module, learners will be able to evaluate the different schools of thought and the reasoning behind the variety of approaches to the management of themselves, individuals and groups or teams within organisations.

Module aim: Management is the administration of an organisation, whether it be a business, a not-for-profit organisation, or government body. Management includes the activities of setting the strategy of an organisation and coordinating the efforts of its employees or volunteers to accomplish its objectives through the application of available resources, such as financial, natural, technological, and human resources. In keeping with other organisational functions, those who manage procurement and supply activity must possess expertise in developing and fulfilling organisational and functional objectives. It is therefore, essential that learners gain a wider appreciation of theories and techniques that relate to managing teams and individuals involved with the procurement and supply function.


Module purpose: On completion of this module, learners will be able to understand the concepts of operations management that link to the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain and explain plans, designs, processes and systems for the improved control or improvement of supply chain operations.

Module aim: In order to ensure success an organisation must create and adopt processes that ensure the consistent production of products and/or services that meet customer demand, both in terms of quantity and quality. This is the responsibility of those who manage the supply chain operations function.

This module is designed to enable those involved in procurement and supply to assess techniques that are aimed at improving supply chain operations to the overall benefit of the organisation.


Module purpose: On completion of this module, learners will be able to assess the impact and implications of projects, examine approaches applied to the planning and management of projects and recognise the challenges associated with and methods to manage, achieve and maintain organisational change.

Module aim: The speed of development and the drive for maintaining organisational competitiveness mean that change is inevitable in the modern workplace. Consequently, those who work and manage in organisations will be expected to deal with change initiatives and to manage those projects which are generated as a direct consequence.

This module is designed for those who are involved in the procurement and supply function, who must recognise the wider environment in which they work and be prepared to apply the tools and techniques that will ultimately lead to the successful management of projects and change initiatives.