CIPS Advanced Category Management Assessment Category of procurement, category plan, implementation plan and challenges mitigation

Question:

Advanced Practitioner Corporate Award

Assessment Code: APCM

This assessment tests the learning outcomes and module content of:

Module: Advanced Category Management in Procurement and Supply Chain Management

Task

You are required to select an example of a category of procurement or a product, service or works bought by your organisation and create a category plan.  This should include an implementation plan which also identifies the challenges in implementing your plan and your strategies for mitigating the challenges.

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.
  1. You are advised to read carefully the complete Assignment Guidance document available from the My Learning section on the LMS (Learning Management System) before commencing your submission.
  1. You are expected to approach your assignment from a procurement and supply context using the module content as the basis of your submission.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.

Solution:

Executive Summary

In this assessment, a category plan for facilities management (FM) for DCT company procurement has been established. The category planning has been developed based on the set organisation procurement objectives and key customer stakeholders needs. The rationale for this is their impact on influencing the set sourcing strategies and initiatives for managing the contracts. Apart from the customer needs and organisation objectives, the category plan has also been based on the need to harness value maximization, reduction of prevailing risks and effectiveness in management of goods and services management. The scope of the category procurement of FM products and the categories has also been identified. For supplier positioning, tools such as Kraljic Portfolio Matrix, SWOT, Porters 5 framework, Pestel and STP for business environment have been adopted. This is inclusive of the key facts and insights on category spend, strategic sourcing levels to identify the total cost of ownership analysis being carried out. This is also inclusive of an implementation plan already developed, different challenges faced in plan implementation and approaches for mitigating the challenges. From the findings of analysis, critical recommendations have been offered essential to improve the category plan for DCT in the procurement of FM in their overall operations. These recommendations include a redeveloped supplier relationship management, and a continuous improvement in the overall category planning process.

1.0 Introduction

Category planning refers to the process that harnesses category plan development in line with the set objectives of an organisation to gain in value maximization, reduction of risks and management of supply of goods and services. This is supported by CIPS (2013) definition that category planning is aligned with business objectives and its development being on the basis of key stakeholders. Also, successful category plans have a direct influence on sourcing strategies and distinct initiatives for contract management. To affirm this, O’brien (2019) defined category management as a supplier process involved in categories management including the strategic business units and to produce an enhanced business results through customer delivery process. The category management strategies are as shown in figure 1 below;

Figure 1: Category Management Model

For the first step which is initiation and preparation, the managers are sourced for rationalizing their suppliers, aggregation of buying power, to drive prices down and improve the supplier performance against the contracts. In the second step that involves identifying opportunities, the suppliers and distributors are engaged as partners hence facilitating creation and management of customer-oriented category plans. The other steps involve category profile, aligning and improving the category, market research and intelligence. Based on this study background, the intention of this assessment is to create a category plan of FM products procured by DCT in Abu Dhabi UAE. Also, an implementation plan and faced challenges in the implementation of the plan would be identified and challenges for mitigating the process.

2.0 Background of Organisation and Selected Category of a Product

2.1 About the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi

Established in 2012, DCT – Abu Dhabi manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the emirate internationally through a wide range of activities and major events, aimed at attracting both culturally sensitive visitors and increased investment. Through its three key sectors: Tourism, Culture and National Library, DCT works extensively to regulate, support, develop and market Abu Dhabi’s tourism industry through a range of activities aimed at promoting and preserving the emirate’s distinctive heritage and culture (DCT, 2019). The company statute is set-up in alignment with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 with a strategy of offering immense contributions to the economic diversification of a country, collaborative operations with different stakeholders in marketing their tourism industry in Abu locally and internationally.

2.2 Current Role and Responsibilities in DCT

The author is a business partner in the tourism sector regulated by DCT. They represent the face of supply management (procurement) department……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Please contact our team to receive guidance, support and tutorial services on this assessment customised to your organisation background and expectations level

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