Study Resources - Level 4 Diploma

Confidently prepare for exam success

Introducing our brand new Study Guides, eBooks and eLearning, each aligned to our syllabus learning outcomes in a fresh, easy to read format:

• Scope and Influence of Procurement and Supply (L4M1)
• Defining Business Need (L4M2)
• Commercial Contracting (L4M3)
• Ethical and Responsible Sourcing (L4M4)
• Commercial Negotiation (L4M5)
• Supplier Relationships (L4M6)
• Whole Life Asset Management (L4M7)
• Procurement and Supply in Practice (L4M8)

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View sample eLearning

• Scope and Influence of Procurement and Supply (L4M1)
• NEW Scope and Influence of Procurement and Supply (L4M1) Revision Video
• Defining Business Need (L4M2)
• Commercial Contracting (L4M3)
• Ethical and Responsible Sourcing (L4M4)
• Commercial Negotiation (L4M5)
• Supplier Relationships (L4M6)
• Whole Life Asset Management (L4M7)
• Procurement and Supply in Practice (L4M8)
• NEW Procurement and Supply in Practice (L4M8) Revision Video

Browse all elearning

• Scope and Influence of Procurement and Supply (L4M1)
• Defining Business Need (L4M2)
• Commercial Contracting (L4M3)
• Ethical and Responsible Sourcing (L4M4)
• Commercial Negotiation (L4M5)
• Supplier Relationships (L4M6)
• Whole Life Asset Management (L4M7)
• Procurement and Supply in Practice (L4M8)

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Study Resource Bundles - 50% eBook discount!

Buy a Level 4, 5 or 6 Study Guide and/or eLearning module and get 50% off the eBook. The eBook discount is already applied to the bundle options shown below:

Recommended Reading:

• L4M1,  L4M2,  L4M4,  L4M5,  L4M6,  L4M7,  L4M8 - Procurement  and Supply Chain Management - Lysons and Farrington

Other Suggested Reading:

• L4M1,  L4M2, L4M5, L4M6, L4M7, L4M8 - 101 Models of Procurement and Supply Chain Management
• L4M3 - Business Law,  11th edition - Keenan and Riches
• L4M4 - Principles of Responsible Management: Global sustainability, responsibility and ethics - Laasch & Conaway

Objective Response questions in the Certificate, Advanced Certificate and Diploma exams are worth 1 mark each.

Sample questions and answers for objective response (OR) exams

• Defining Business Need (L4M2)
• Commercial Contracting (L4M3)
• Ethical and Responsible Sourcing (L4M4)
• Commercial Negotiation (L4M5)
• Supplier Relationships (L4M6)
• Whole Life Asset Management (L4M7)

Sample questions for constructed response (CR) exams

• Scope and Influence of Procurement and Supply [L4M1]
• Procurement and Supply in Practice [L4M8]

View exam feedback in the Principal Marker (PM) reports for L4M1 and L4M8 exams.

You must be logged in as a CIPS member to access.

Use it as part of your preparation for future examinations, or review your performance in an exam you've taken.

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How to approach CIPS exam questions

Exams can be stressful and being prepared is the best way to manage any pre-exam nerves. All of our exams are computer-based* and you can expect to answer different types of questions depending on the type of exams you have entered. The following videos will help you to understand the different approaches you need to consider as part of your studies and exam preparations.

IMPORTANT NOTE:Objective Response exams are also used to assess the Level 4 Diploma, Level 5 Advanced Diploma and Level 6 Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply.

Watch this short video to see how to use the computer-based exams platform for CIPS Constructed Response (CR) exams. It also includes guidance on the different types of command words found in the questions and how you should tailor your answers to what the examiner is looking for.

Our guides will help you to prepare for any of the exam formats that you’re likely to encounter.

• A candidate guide  preparing for CIPS exams
• Exam preparation guidance for Objective Response (OR) questions in Level 2 Certificate and Level 3 Advanced Certificate computer-based exams
• Exam preparation guidance for Objective Response (OR) questions  Level 4 Diploma Level 5 Advanced Diploma and Level 6 Professional Diploma
• Exam preparation guidance for Constructed Response (CR) questions Level 4 Diploma Level 5 Advanced Diploma and Level 6 Professional Diploma.

Improve your exam techniques

Learn how to improve your exam techniques for Constructed Response (CR) exams.  The way that you structure your answer can mean the difference between pass or fail.  Take at look through the following guides to improve your exam technique.

Download your computer-based exams CR exams techniques guide 

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Our paper-based CR exams (PBEs) are only available in specific countries. To find out if we hold PBEs in your country go to our online exam finder. 

Download your paper-based constructed response exams techniques guide.

Other study and exam guidance

• In the News - illustrate your exam answers with relevant examples from these highlighted international news stories.
• Top Tips - to help you optimise your study time.
• Networking - get in touch with your local branch and social media networks to get peer support.

Access CIPS Knowledge a free member only resource designed to support you as you study for each exam.

CIPS Knowledge Access CIPS Knowledge a free member only resource designed to support you as you study for each exam.

Select a module to see related white papers and resources for each learning outcome:

L4M1 | L4M2 | L4M3 | L4M4 | L4M5 | L4M6 | L4M7 | L4M8

1.0  Understand and analyse the added value that can be achieved through procurement and supply chain management

• Stakeholders
• Global supply chains
• Whole life costing
• Stakeholder mapping
• Value generation

2.0  Understand and analyse the key steps when procuring goods or services

• Procurement and supply cycle
• Contract management
• Application of technology
• eSourcing/eProcurement systems P2P
• International Labour Organisation
• Supplier evaluation & appraisal
• Supplier selection

3.0  Understand and analyse the key aspects of organisational infrastructure that shape the scope of a procurement or supply chain function

• eSourcing
• Purchase to pay (P2P) process
• Supply chain governance
• Centralised vs Decentralised Procurement
• Procurement policy development
• Procurement strategy development

4.0  Understand and analyse the need for compliance with requirements when undertaking procurement activities in different sectors

• Global Standard for Procurement and Supply
• GDPR
• Sectors of the economy

1.0 Understand how to devise a business case for requirements to be sourced from external suppliers

• Benchmarking
• Whole life costing
• Business case development
• Direct cost and indirect costs
• Financial analysis for purchasers

2.0  Understand market management in procurement and supply

• Porter's Five Forces
• Market analysis
• Cartels/competition
• Brexit
• Financial risk

3.0  Understand the use of specifications in Procurement and Supply

• Specification development
• International Organisation for Standardisation
• Sustainable and ethical procurement
• Supplier diversity
• Social value
• Corporate social responsibility

1.0  Understand the legal issues that relate to the formation of contracts

• Setting KPIs
• Terms and conditions and the developing of contracts
• Contract law
• Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
• Supply chain financing

2.0  Understand the fundamentals of specifications and key performance indicators that are included in contractual arrangements made with suppliers

• Setting KPIs
• Performance analysis and management
• Information assurance
• Contract management

3.0  Understand the key clauses that are included in formal contracts

• Terms and conditions and the deveoping of contracts
• Sustainable and ethical procurement
• What is the difference between indemnity and liability?
• Contract Management
• eSourcing and eProcurement

1.0  Understand options for sourcing of requirements from suppliers

• Sourcing and tendering
• Sustainable and ethical procurement
• Outsourcing / offshoring and insourcing
• International sourcing
• Supplier selection
• Supplier evaluation & appraisal

2.0  Understand the key processes that can be applied to the analysis of potential external suppliers

• Commodity specific knowledge
• Market Intelligence
• Supplier evalutation and apprasial
• Public procurement policy
• Supplier selection
• Financial analysis

3.0  Understand compliance issues when sourcing from suppliers

• Risk analysis and management
• Logistics
• Incoterms
• Legislation
• Social & environmental issues

4.0  Understand ethical and responsible sourcing

• Global Standard for Procurement and Supply
• Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
• Modern Slavery
• Sustainable and ethical procurement
• Social value
• Supplier diversity

1.0  Understand key approaches in the negotiation of commercial agreements with external organisations

• Negotiation
• Soft skills
• French and Raven's Five Forms of Power
• Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA)
• Market intelligence
• Game theory
• Supplier relationship management

2.0  Know how to prepare for negotiations with external organisations

• Negotiation
• Supplier positioning
• Macroeconomic Objectives and Macro Stability
• How to define "bargaining mix"?
• Market intelligence
• Game theory
• Financial analysis for purchasers

3.0  Understand how commercial negotiations should be undertaken

• Negotiation
• Ten Persuasion Techniques
• Emotional Intelligence (EI)
• Influencing skills
• Game theory
• Soft skills

1.0  Understand the dynamics of relationships in supply chains

• Supply chain network design (SCND)
• Supply chain governance
• Supplier relationship management
• Differnece between STEEP and STEEPLE Analysis
• Porter's Five Forces
• Value generation

2.0  Understand processes and procedures for successful working with stakeholders

• Stakeholders
• Supplier evaluation and appraisal
• Risk analysis and management
• Costmodelling CostAdviser Professional
• Soft skills
• Influencing skills

3.0 Understand the concept of partnering

• Logistics
• Application of technology
• Supplier relationship management (SRM)
• Collaborative working

1.0  Understand the dynamics of relationships in supply chains

• Stock Control
• Warehousing
• Warehousing and inventory management
• MRP/CRP
• Application of technology including RFID

2.0  Understand the key elements of effective inventory control

• Stock Control
• Warehousing
• Logistics
• MRP/CRP

3.0 Understand the concept of through life cost

• Carbon Climate
• Total cost of ownership (TCO)
• Whole life costing

1.0  Demonstrate the application of the procurement cycle

• Procurement and Supply Cycle

2.0  Demonstrate the application of the key stages of the sourcing process

• Terms and conditions and the developing contracts
• Supplier evaluation and appraisal
• Sourcing

3.0 Demonstrate the application of whole life asset management.

• Realising a World Class Infrastructure
• 6 Benefits of Teamwork in the Workplace
• Whole life costing

4.0  Demonstrate the application of ethical and responsible sourcing within an organisation

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You may want to consider getting further support with a CIPS approved study centre and access structured, tutor-led learning to be certain that you have thoroughly covered the whole syllabus ahead of your exam.

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