BUS06156-30848: Contingency Theory States That There Is No Best Way To Organize: Principles Of Procurement, UCC, Ireland

QUESTION 1

Contingency theory states that there is no best way to organize a procurement structure. Describe the difference between centralized and decentralized procurement structures. Illustrate your answer with examples and diagrams.

QUESTION 2

a) Discuss the difference between a transactional and strategic partnership approach to relationships with suppliers. Give examples of where each approach would be used.

b) Discuss the four reasons why supplier relationships are terminated. Support your answer with examples.

QUESTION 3 

a) Discuss the importance of clear and unambiguous specifications when buying internationally. Illustrate your answer with examples.

b) Identify and outline three sections that should be included when writing a specification.

Pursuing an ‘ethical supply chain’ is emerging as a procurement goal for many organizations. Select and discuss three ethical principles procurement professionals should promote.

QUESTION 5

An e-auction is an electronic auction where suppliers bid competitively online against each other for contracts. Discuss the reasons why procurement professionals choose e-auctions. Support your answer with examples

QUESTION 6

Outsourcing is defined as the transfer of the production of goods or services that had heretofore been performed internally to an external party. Identify and discuss three reasons why an organization decides to outsource. Support your answer with examples.

QUESTION 7 

A category sourcing plan is a formal plan for a product or service category that explains how the company is going to deal with supply markets to secure the supply of these products and services. List and discuss five main content elements of a category sourcing plan.