Ethical and Responsible Sourcing L4M4 Exam Questions
In which circumstances would a procurement manager effectively use competitive tendering for the award of contracts?
Correct Answer: C
Competitive tendering is ideal for high-value contracts where technical expertise is essential. This method supports responsible sourcing by ensuring quality and aligning the supplier’s capabilities with the buyer’s needs, as required in more complex procurement scenarios.
According to the CIPS code of conduct, which laws should a procurement professional adhere to?
Correct Answer: D
The CIPS Code of Conduct says to adhere to all laws of countries in which I practice. So if you're in the UK and procure stuff from China, you need to abide by both UK and Chinese laws, not just UK laws.
There's no international procurement laws- these are all different for different countries.
ILO doesn't publish laws.
A company has a low gearing of 20%. This shows that the company relies on equity capital and should therefore have less difficulty coping during tough economic times. Is this statement TRUE?
Correct Answer: A
the correct answer is 'Yes- a low gearing ratio means the company's finances are made up of equity rather than debt'.
Remember low gearing = good (based on equity), high gearing = bad (based on debt). Anything over 50% is considered high.
The two no answers are therefore incorrect and you can discount these straight away. The other yes answer is one of those answers which COULD be true, but isn't always true, and we'd need more information to know for sure. When you get options like this there will be one that is always right and one which is sometimes right - so always pick the always right one.
Dealing with supply chain disruptions is complex, and depending what the disruption is, how big it is, what the industry is etc determines whether a supplier can handle it or not. Because there's more factors to consider than just gearing, this isn't the right answer.
Which of the following are signs that modern-day slavery might be taking place within the supply chain? Select THREE.
Correct Answer: A, B, C
The correct answers are; suspiciously low labour costs, workers living on site and poor quality products (as this signals that the workforce may be unskilled).
A low score on the CPI is a good thing (high scores are more likely to signify slavery concerns) and just because someone speaks English as a second language doesn't mean you automatically need to be suspicious. That would be prejudice.
Foresttors Plc is negotiating a new contract for the procurement of timber, a crucial component of its production operations. The company has incorporated environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting requirements into the contractual terms. Is this a valid approach?
Correct Answer: D
Embedding ESG/ethical clauses and reporting in contracts is a key mechanism to implement responsible sourcing, set clear expectations, and enable monitoring and remedies. Suppliers can be held to contractual ESG obligations where these are defined and agreed.