PSE Practitioner Corporate Award Assessment Sourcing Essentials | CIPS

PSE Assessment

Assessment Code: PSE

This assessment tests the learning outcomes and module content of:

Module: Sourcing Essentials

Task

Identify FOUR sourcing approaches, and for each one, identify and explain how you apply them to a category of spend within your organisation.

Choose one of these categories and develop a supplier appraisal check list.

Identify four sourcing approaches…

The task is asking you to identify FOUR sourcing approaches. Be careful not to fall into the trap of talking about Open Tendering, Restricted Tendering, Competitive Dialogue and Competitive Procedure with Negotiation as sourcing approaches, because this is not what is meant, as they are procedures not approaches.

… and for each one, Identify and explain how you apply them to a category of spend within your organisation

What category / categories of spend will you use? Which models could you use to provide context to the category? Is it a strategic requirement? How might this impact on the sourcing approach you choose? What type of relationship might be appropriate with the supplier? How will this impact on the sourcing approach you choose? Which models will help you to understand the number of suppliers and the level of competition in the marketplace? How will this help you to determine which sourcing approach is appropriate? Is the marketplace a monopoly / oligopoly / perfect competition?

What are the strengths and weaknesses of each sourcing approach both generally, and specifically when applied to your category? Are there any opportunities for your organisation? What are the threats? What model could you use?

Choose one of these categories and develop a supplier appraisal check list

NOTE Remember the difference between selection criteria and award criteria.

What areas should the supplier appraisal checklist cover? What areas does your appraisal checklist cover? Why? Are there any gaps? What impact does this have? How could you address this? Which model could you use? Are any areas more important that others in the context of the category of spend, and should possibly be weighted? Are there any specific public sector requirements for supplier appraisal checklists?

NOTE Similar to the PDC assignment, make sure that you include the relevant question from your supplier appraisal checklist in the main body of the assignment where you are discussing and analysing it.

NOTE: if as part of your recommendations, you are suggesting a change to your supplier appraisal checklist, consider including the new wording for the question in a table under the relevant recommendation. This will show the assessor that you have identified a gap, made a recommendation to bridge the gap, and shown how the recommendation will be implemented.

Sourcing Essentials in Procurement and Supply Slides v2.pdf

CRIB Sheet Explain.docx

Guidance for Candidates

Your work should consist of 3,000 words. Your assignment should include the assignment title, your candidate number and word count on the front cover, followed by contents page, executive summary, conclusions, recommendations, references and a bibliography. Any source materials such as web sites, company reports, indices, market data, articles, journals or texts should be listed in your references or bibliography in accordance with a recognised referencing system. Your assignment submission should be word processed with a minimum font size 12pt and 1.5 or double line spacing. Refer to the Assignment Guidance document for more information.

1. This assignment enables you to demonstrate the knowledge and understanding you have gained within the programme, together with your ability to research, analyse and problem solve a range of different procurement and supply related situations and challenges.
2. You are advised to read carefully the complete Assignment Guidance available from the My Learning section on the LMS (Learning Management System) before commencing your submission.
3. You are expected to approach your assignment from a procurement and supply context using the module content as the basis of your submission.
4. It is recommended that you base your assignment upon the business unit or organisation you work for, as it is likely you will be able to access appropriate information and data that you will require to underpin and support your final submission.
5. Your assignment must be your own work. In order to avoid plagiarism, whenever you use someone’s words directly, or make reference to the ideas or work of others, you must reference this appropriately using a recognised referencing system, as outlined in the Assignment Guidance document. Failure to reference the work of others, whether intentional or accidental, is considered plagiarism which constitutes a form of cheating and is not tolerated by CIPS.

6. Your assignment submission will be assessed according to the following assessment criteria (see the complete Assessment Guidance document (LMS – My Learning) for more information): a. Application and insight (40%)
   a. Research (20%)
   b. Knowledge and approach (20%)
   c. Structure and presentation (20%)

7. Plan your assignment to ensure that you have addressed all elements of the assignment task and the assessment criteria, as well as the module learning outcomes. Think carefully about the structure, style and content of your assignment.
8. Please include your CIPS candidate number on each page of your assignment submission and include the total word count of your submission. Your name should not appear on your assignment.
9. Your assignment can be up to 10% below the stated word count, or up to 10% higher than the stated word count. If your assignment exceeds the stated word count by more than 10%, marks may be deducted. The assignment guidance explains what is and what is not to be included in the word count. Your reference list and bibliography is excluded from the word count.
10. Please ensure you hand in your submission no later than the deadline date. There are penalties if your submission is handed in late without prior agreement from CIPS. If your submission is late, your result will be capped at 50%.