CIPS L4M2 Practice Exams
Last updated on Oct 23,2026- Exam Code: L4M2
- Exam Name: Defining Business Needs
- Certification Provider: CIPS
- Latest update: Oct 23,2026
Question #181
Category buyer Raheem has been tasked with receiving innovative bids from coaching and development service providers.
How can he achieve this? Select TWO that apply.
- A . Apply early supplier involvement
- B . Invite a small group of suppliers
- C . Use a conformance-based specification
- D . Use an outcome-based specification
- E . Apply standards within the specification
Correct Answer: A, D
A, D
Explanation:
A (Early supplier involvement): Engaging suppliers early fosters innovation by leveraging their expertise in developing solutions.
D (Outcome-based specification): Focusing on outcomes rather than rigid inputs encourages creative and flexible proposals.
Conformance specifications (C) restrict innovation, and standards (E) limit supplier flexibility.
Reference: CIPS Level 4, Innovation in Procurement Specifications.
A, D
Explanation:
A (Early supplier involvement): Engaging suppliers early fosters innovation by leveraging their expertise in developing solutions.
D (Outcome-based specification): Focusing on outcomes rather than rigid inputs encourages creative and flexible proposals.
Conformance specifications (C) restrict innovation, and standards (E) limit supplier flexibility.
Reference: CIPS Level 4, Innovation in Procurement Specifications.
Question #182
Thani Ltd is a fast growing logistics company with a fleet of 20 tractors. To meet Net Zero objective, the company needs to electrify its fleet. Angelica is assigned to investigate the market price of electrifying services. After the investigation, she realises that the current market price is very expensive and unsustainable for her company. She decides to break down the costs before negotiating with the suppliers.
Which internal stakeholders may help Angelica estimate the breakdown of costs? Select TWO that apply.
- A . Sales and Marketing department
- B . Engineering department
- C . Finance department
- D . Commercial agency
- E . Suppliers
Correct Answer: B, C
B, C
Explanation:
Despite of its importance, cost analysis is often a daunting task for procurement professionals. In order to analyse supplier’s costs effectively, procurement may need the input from other departments. Normally, technical (or engineering) department may help them to identify the direct costs of the product/service (how much material is required to make the product, or how many people are needed to perform the job, etc), while finance (or accounting) department may have ideas on the overheads of the supplier.
In this scenario, engineering department may provide insights on the components needed and the tasks to perform. Similarly, finance may know how much supplier pays for the overheads.
On the other hand, while commercial agency and suppliers are external stakeholders, Sales and marketing is unlikely to provide valuable information in this case.
Reference: CIPS study guide page 102
LO 2, AC 2.3
B, C
Explanation:
Despite of its importance, cost analysis is often a daunting task for procurement professionals. In order to analyse supplier’s costs effectively, procurement may need the input from other departments. Normally, technical (or engineering) department may help them to identify the direct costs of the product/service (how much material is required to make the product, or how many people are needed to perform the job, etc), while finance (or accounting) department may have ideas on the overheads of the supplier.
In this scenario, engineering department may provide insights on the components needed and the tasks to perform. Similarly, finance may know how much supplier pays for the overheads.
On the other hand, while commercial agency and suppliers are external stakeholders, Sales and marketing is unlikely to provide valuable information in this case.
Reference: CIPS study guide page 102
LO 2, AC 2.3
Question #183
Informal recommendation
- A . 1 and 3 only
- B . 2 and 4 only
- C . 1 and 4 only
- D . 2 and 3 only
Correct Answer: A
Question #184
Which of the following statements is true about product life cycle?
- A . The price remains static throughout the product life cycle
- B . The price competition will be the fiercest at the declining stage because the inventories are plentiful
- C . If price skimming is adopted, the supplier will gradually lower the price when it attracts enough buyers
- D . Sale volume will be the highest at the introductory stage
Correct Answer: C
C
Explanation:
A product’s life cycle portrays the length of time a product is in the market; from the beginning of its introduction to consumers until it is removed from shelves and phased out. This cycle is often divided into four phases: introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. Depending on the relevant stage, companies will set an according strategy to achieve their desired targets. Pricing and promotions play a pivotal role in the design of these product life cycle strategies. Therefore, product life cycle management, the process of strategizing ways to continuously support and maintain a product, is seen more and more at pricing mature players and could bring real value to your company. Introduction phase: during the introduction phase, the new product is introduced to consumers and a substantial amount of money is invested in advertising and marketing campaigns to bring awareness of the product to the customer. In this phase competition is low, but units sold will also correspondingly be quite low as well still. Consumers need to be convinced of the benefits of the product. Lots of articles never make it beyond this phase: e.g. 3D televisions.
Profits in the introduction stage tend to be low or there may even be a loss. This is because the cost of marketing to establish product awareness plus distribution costs can be far higher than the revenue received from sales. This can be offset to a degree by ‘skimming’ price in the very early stages. Skimming a price is where a business charges the highest price that it thinks the market will bear initially until product recognition brings in other buyers and then the price drop.
Growth phase: when it’s shown there is proven demand for the product and consumers are buying it, the next stage will be its growth phase. This phase is punctuated by increasing demand, increasing production and an increase in the competitive landscape. Availability of the product is understandably paramount during this phase, going out of stock is unthinkable during the growth period. The electric car is an example of a product that is currently in the midst of the growth phase. Maturity phase: normally the maturity phase is the phase that is characterized by declining production and marketing costs due to synergies and economies of scale. During this phase the first signs of market saturation occur and most consumers or households already own the product. Sales numbers still grow, but at a slower pace. In the maturity phase, price competition becomes intense, a broader range of distribution channels are deployed and competition is more focused on competitive pricing, marginal product differences or the difference in services or promotions. This period in the PLC is often said to be the ‘cash-cow period’.
That being said, the idea of ‘Maturity from the start’ also exists. This occurs when a brand decides to launch a product extension and directly follows up the maturity phase of an earlier version of the product. For example, the iPhoneX followed up from the ‘normal’ iPhone-series and therefore the iPhoneX never had to undergo the introduction or growth phase, but immediately started in its maturity phase.
Decline phase: the final phase of the PLC is entered once the product loses market share to other, newer products and the competitive landscape becomes too hard to survive. During this stage, de-mand declines, companies are left with overstock with prices and margins getting depressed.
Therefore retailers and brands normally start stunting with promotions during the decline of the PLC to sell their final stock.
A well-known example of a product that has been through the decline phase were the Nokia phones; sales results dramatically decreased after the introduction of the iPhone.
Reference: – CIPS study guide page 90
– Adjusting your Pricing Strategy to the Product Life Cycle Stage (omniaretail.com)
– Price Skimming Definition (investopedia.com)
LO 2, AC 2.2
C
Explanation:
A product’s life cycle portrays the length of time a product is in the market; from the beginning of its introduction to consumers until it is removed from shelves and phased out. This cycle is often divided into four phases: introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. Depending on the relevant stage, companies will set an according strategy to achieve their desired targets. Pricing and promotions play a pivotal role in the design of these product life cycle strategies. Therefore, product life cycle management, the process of strategizing ways to continuously support and maintain a product, is seen more and more at pricing mature players and could bring real value to your company. Introduction phase: during the introduction phase, the new product is introduced to consumers and a substantial amount of money is invested in advertising and marketing campaigns to bring awareness of the product to the customer. In this phase competition is low, but units sold will also correspondingly be quite low as well still. Consumers need to be convinced of the benefits of the product. Lots of articles never make it beyond this phase: e.g. 3D televisions.
Profits in the introduction stage tend to be low or there may even be a loss. This is because the cost of marketing to establish product awareness plus distribution costs can be far higher than the revenue received from sales. This can be offset to a degree by ‘skimming’ price in the very early stages. Skimming a price is where a business charges the highest price that it thinks the market will bear initially until product recognition brings in other buyers and then the price drop.
Growth phase: when it’s shown there is proven demand for the product and consumers are buying it, the next stage will be its growth phase. This phase is punctuated by increasing demand, increasing production and an increase in the competitive landscape. Availability of the product is understandably paramount during this phase, going out of stock is unthinkable during the growth period. The electric car is an example of a product that is currently in the midst of the growth phase. Maturity phase: normally the maturity phase is the phase that is characterized by declining production and marketing costs due to synergies and economies of scale. During this phase the first signs of market saturation occur and most consumers or households already own the product. Sales numbers still grow, but at a slower pace. In the maturity phase, price competition becomes intense, a broader range of distribution channels are deployed and competition is more focused on competitive pricing, marginal product differences or the difference in services or promotions. This period in the PLC is often said to be the ‘cash-cow period’.
That being said, the idea of ‘Maturity from the start’ also exists. This occurs when a brand decides to launch a product extension and directly follows up the maturity phase of an earlier version of the product. For example, the iPhoneX followed up from the ‘normal’ iPhone-series and therefore the iPhoneX never had to undergo the introduction or growth phase, but immediately started in its maturity phase.
Decline phase: the final phase of the PLC is entered once the product loses market share to other, newer products and the competitive landscape becomes too hard to survive. During this stage, de-mand declines, companies are left with overstock with prices and margins getting depressed.
Therefore retailers and brands normally start stunting with promotions during the decline of the PLC to sell their final stock.
A well-known example of a product that has been through the decline phase were the Nokia phones; sales results dramatically decreased after the introduction of the iPhone.
Reference: – CIPS study guide page 90
– Adjusting your Pricing Strategy to the Product Life Cycle Stage (omniaretail.com)
– Price Skimming Definition (investopedia.com)
LO 2, AC 2.2
Question #184
Which of the following statements is true about product life cycle?
- A . The price remains static throughout the product life cycle
- B . The price competition will be the fiercest at the declining stage because the inventories are plentiful
- C . If price skimming is adopted, the supplier will gradually lower the price when it attracts enough buyers
- D . Sale volume will be the highest at the introductory stage
Correct Answer: C
C
Explanation:
A product’s life cycle portrays the length of time a product is in the market; from the beginning of its introduction to consumers until it is removed from shelves and phased out. This cycle is often divided into four phases: introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. Depending on the relevant stage, companies will set an according strategy to achieve their desired targets. Pricing and promotions play a pivotal role in the design of these product life cycle strategies. Therefore, product life cycle management, the process of strategizing ways to continuously support and maintain a product, is seen more and more at pricing mature players and could bring real value to your company. Introduction phase: during the introduction phase, the new product is introduced to consumers and a substantial amount of money is invested in advertising and marketing campaigns to bring awareness of the product to the customer. In this phase competition is low, but units sold will also correspondingly be quite low as well still. Consumers need to be convinced of the benefits of the product. Lots of articles never make it beyond this phase: e.g. 3D televisions.
Profits in the introduction stage tend to be low or there may even be a loss. This is because the cost of marketing to establish product awareness plus distribution costs can be far higher than the revenue received from sales. This can be offset to a degree by ‘skimming’ price in the very early stages. Skimming a price is where a business charges the highest price that it thinks the market will bear initially until product recognition brings in other buyers and then the price drop.
Growth phase: when it’s shown there is proven demand for the product and consumers are buying it, the next stage will be its growth phase. This phase is punctuated by increasing demand, increasing production and an increase in the competitive landscape. Availability of the product is understandably paramount during this phase, going out of stock is unthinkable during the growth period. The electric car is an example of a product that is currently in the midst of the growth phase. Maturity phase: normally the maturity phase is the phase that is characterized by declining production and marketing costs due to synergies and economies of scale. During this phase the first signs of market saturation occur and most consumers or households already own the product. Sales numbers still grow, but at a slower pace. In the maturity phase, price competition becomes intense, a broader range of distribution channels are deployed and competition is more focused on competitive pricing, marginal product differences or the difference in services or promotions. This period in the PLC is often said to be the ‘cash-cow period’.
That being said, the idea of ‘Maturity from the start’ also exists. This occurs when a brand decides to launch a product extension and directly follows up the maturity phase of an earlier version of the product. For example, the iPhoneX followed up from the ‘normal’ iPhone-series and therefore the iPhoneX never had to undergo the introduction or growth phase, but immediately started in its maturity phase.
Decline phase: the final phase of the PLC is entered once the product loses market share to other, newer products and the competitive landscape becomes too hard to survive. During this stage, de-mand declines, companies are left with overstock with prices and margins getting depressed.
Therefore retailers and brands normally start stunting with promotions during the decline of the PLC to sell their final stock.
A well-known example of a product that has been through the decline phase were the Nokia phones; sales results dramatically decreased after the introduction of the iPhone.
Reference: – CIPS study guide page 90
– Adjusting your Pricing Strategy to the Product Life Cycle Stage (omniaretail.com)
– Price Skimming Definition (investopedia.com)
LO 2, AC 2.2
C
Explanation:
A product’s life cycle portrays the length of time a product is in the market; from the beginning of its introduction to consumers until it is removed from shelves and phased out. This cycle is often divided into four phases: introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. Depending on the relevant stage, companies will set an according strategy to achieve their desired targets. Pricing and promotions play a pivotal role in the design of these product life cycle strategies. Therefore, product life cycle management, the process of strategizing ways to continuously support and maintain a product, is seen more and more at pricing mature players and could bring real value to your company. Introduction phase: during the introduction phase, the new product is introduced to consumers and a substantial amount of money is invested in advertising and marketing campaigns to bring awareness of the product to the customer. In this phase competition is low, but units sold will also correspondingly be quite low as well still. Consumers need to be convinced of the benefits of the product. Lots of articles never make it beyond this phase: e.g. 3D televisions.
Profits in the introduction stage tend to be low or there may even be a loss. This is because the cost of marketing to establish product awareness plus distribution costs can be far higher than the revenue received from sales. This can be offset to a degree by ‘skimming’ price in the very early stages. Skimming a price is where a business charges the highest price that it thinks the market will bear initially until product recognition brings in other buyers and then the price drop.
Growth phase: when it’s shown there is proven demand for the product and consumers are buying it, the next stage will be its growth phase. This phase is punctuated by increasing demand, increasing production and an increase in the competitive landscape. Availability of the product is understandably paramount during this phase, going out of stock is unthinkable during the growth period. The electric car is an example of a product that is currently in the midst of the growth phase. Maturity phase: normally the maturity phase is the phase that is characterized by declining production and marketing costs due to synergies and economies of scale. During this phase the first signs of market saturation occur and most consumers or households already own the product. Sales numbers still grow, but at a slower pace. In the maturity phase, price competition becomes intense, a broader range of distribution channels are deployed and competition is more focused on competitive pricing, marginal product differences or the difference in services or promotions. This period in the PLC is often said to be the ‘cash-cow period’.
That being said, the idea of ‘Maturity from the start’ also exists. This occurs when a brand decides to launch a product extension and directly follows up the maturity phase of an earlier version of the product. For example, the iPhoneX followed up from the ‘normal’ iPhone-series and therefore the iPhoneX never had to undergo the introduction or growth phase, but immediately started in its maturity phase.
Decline phase: the final phase of the PLC is entered once the product loses market share to other, newer products and the competitive landscape becomes too hard to survive. During this stage, de-mand declines, companies are left with overstock with prices and margins getting depressed.
Therefore retailers and brands normally start stunting with promotions during the decline of the PLC to sell their final stock.
A well-known example of a product that has been through the decline phase were the Nokia phones; sales results dramatically decreased after the introduction of the iPhone.
Reference: – CIPS study guide page 90
– Adjusting your Pricing Strategy to the Product Life Cycle Stage (omniaretail.com)
– Price Skimming Definition (investopedia.com)
LO 2, AC 2.2
Question #186
A manufacturing organisation has initiated a project focusing on costs, with a view to making significant savings. A procurement manager is leading the project. The initial data sources have focused on the cost of raw materials.
Which of the following describes this cost?
- A . Direct, variable costs
- B . Indirect, variable costs
- C . Direct, fixed costs
- D . Indirect, fixed costs
Correct Answer: A
Question #186
A manufacturing organisation has initiated a project focusing on costs, with a view to making significant savings. A procurement manager is leading the project. The initial data sources have focused on the cost of raw materials.
Which of the following describes this cost?
- A . Direct, variable costs
- B . Indirect, variable costs
- C . Direct, fixed costs
- D . Indirect, fixed costs
Correct Answer: A
Question #188
A procurement manager decided to use a conformance specification in a request for quotation (RFQ) for the manufacturing of a specialist item designed by their company. The company does not have the capability to manufacture the item in-house, but requires the item to be made to their detailed specification.
Was this the correct thing to do?
- A . Yes, as it means that the company will be able to get the most cost-effective price for the item from the chosen supplier
- B . Yes, as it means that the company will get exactly what it has specified and meets its specific requirements
- C . No, as the item will be of non-standard construction and will not be able to be used by other competitors
- D . No, as it means that the chosen supplier will not be able to use their expertise and knowledge to manufacture the item
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
Conformance specifications are appropriate when the buyer has precise requirements that must be met. This ensures the final product aligns perfectly with the company’s needs, even if it limits supplier flexibility.
Reference: CIPS Level 4, Conformance Specification in Procurement.
B
Explanation:
Conformance specifications are appropriate when the buyer has precise requirements that must be met. This ensures the final product aligns perfectly with the company’s needs, even if it limits supplier flexibility.
Reference: CIPS Level 4, Conformance Specification in Procurement.
Question #189
Azram, a procurement analyst, has been tasked with applying whole life asset management when purchasing a piece of laboratory equipment.
Was this the correct course of action?
- A . Yes, because this focuses only on the price of the equipment
- B . Yes, because this considers all associated costs
- C . No, because this considers the costs of quality
- D . No, because this covers various transactional costs
Correct Answer: B
Question #190
Lucy, a junior procurement analyst, has been asked to assess the competitive forces in the garden furniture market. XYZ Ltd is the largest producer of garden furniture in the country. It produces 70% of all the garden furniture manufactured, while the second largest manufacturer produces less than 5% of the garden furniture for the country.
Which power does XYZ Ltd possess?
- A . Purchasing power
- B . Substitute power
- C . Supplier bargaining power
- D . Buyer bargaining power
Correct Answer: C