CIPS L3M5 Socially Responsible Procurement Exam Practice Test

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Total 90 questions
Question 1

Approximately what percentage of costs, of running heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), is accounted for by fuel costs?



Answer : B

The correct answer is roughly one-third, or 33%.

This means that fuel costs are very important to road haulage firms, and alternative means of either transportation or power for trucks would be desirable, both to reduce costs and to aid the environ-ment.

Using your learning and your experience, what do you think the other main costs are of running a heavy goods vehicle fleet? I'll leave you to come up with some of the key areas yourself.

(L3M6)


Question 2

UNFCCC negotiations led to which protocol in 1997, on the subject of climate change and the re-duction of emissions globally?



Answer : C

Kyoto, 1997.

Most recent global conference on this issue was in Glasgow, Scotland in 2022.

The other answers have no connection: 'The Fourth Protocol' is a novel by Frederick Forsyth.


Question 3

Which one of the following is not a form of warehouse flow design?



Answer : C

The correct answer is 'snowflake'.

All of the others shown are possible warehouse designs taking account of flow.

(L3M6)


Question 4

Learning Outcome 2.2 of your course syllabus (for both L3M5 and L3M6) is 'Explain the environ-mental impact of transportation and storage'.

Which of the following are included as assessment criteria under that heading? Select all that apply.



Answer : A, B, C, D

The answer is 'all of them'.

It would be wise to ensure you have some understanding of how each of these criteria relates to / contributes towards the course overall.

For example, can you think of some examples of 'accidents' which can be said to illustrate a less-than-careful approach to business? (Clue: oil companies).


Question 5

Which of the following is not included within the concept of 'ethical sourcing'?



Answer : A

'Value for money is obtained through buying on the basis of lowest price' would not be a necessary part of the concept of ethical sourcing. The other answers shown are all factors included within eth-ical sourcing.


Question 6

What proportion of energy consumption is accounted for by transport, as opposed to manufacturing and residential, according to the International Energy Authority?



Answer : D

The answer is 34%, so around one-third of all energy use on the planet is used for transportation.

(Source: IEA, 2017 quoted by Profex Publishing Ltd)

So, say, a European firm sourcing products from, say, China, uses a large amount of energy just to get goods from manufacturer to market. Or a US retailer buying from a supplier across the country, using road transport, is soaking up a large amount of energy.

I read something yesterday (Feb 2022) which I thought was interesting. Imagine someone drives a modern large 4 x 4 'car'. It might weigh, say, 1,500 kilos. The driver might weigh 100 kilos, say. Most such vehicles on the road have no passengers - they are transporting the driver from A to B. Thus to take something weighing 100 kilos from A to B, sufficient energy to transport (1,500 + 100 kilos) must be used.

Compare this to the same person going from A to B on a bicycle, even an electric bicycle.


Question 7

What has been defined as: 'a process whereby organisations meet their needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money on a whole life basis in terms of generating benefits not only to the organisation, but also to society and the economy, whilst minimising damage to the environment'



Answer : B

This is a definition of sustainable procurement, from the Sustainable Procurement Task Force, quot-ed by Profex Publishing, L3M5, Ch 6.

The inclusion of terms like 'meet their needs' and 'value for money' point us in the direction of pro-curement, not just sustainability.


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Total 90 questions