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Exam Code L4M2
Exam Name Defining Business Needs
Vendor CIPS
Total Questions 304
Last Updated 26-Oct, 2026
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Free L4M2 Practice Questions

Explore 5 free practice questions for the CIPS L4M2 exam and review the answers and explanations to support your preparation.

  1. Question 1

    Single answer

    Which of the following may allow suppliers free to choose the materials, manufacturing process or delivery process?

    • Option A:

      Performance specification


      Correct
    • Option B:

      Design specification


      Correct
    • Option C:

      Technical specifications


      Correct
    • Option D:

      Conformance specification

      Correct
    Show Answer & Explanation Hide Answer & Explanation

    Correct Answer: A

    Explanation

    Explanation

    The Performance Specifications define what the system being designed must do, and not how it must do it. In this step a list of needs and wants should be created. The needs are customer requirements, while the wants are engineering desires. If a buyer adopts performance specification, the supplier will be free to choose how to make and deliver the product.

    A technical specification document outlines how you’re going to address a technical problem by designing and building a solution for it.

    A design specification is a detailed document providing a list of points regarding a product or pro-cess. For example, the design specification could include required dimensions, environmental fac-tors, ergonomic factors, aesthetic factors, maintenance that will be needed, etc. It may also give specific examples of how the design should be executed, helping others work properly (a guideline for what the person should do).

    With conformance specification the buyer says what they want and how they want it and the supplier has to meet this

    [Reference: CIPS study guide page 119-124, LO3, AC 3.1, , , ]
  2. Question 2

    Single answer

    Which of the following is true in relation to estimating the costs associated with whole life asset management?

    • Option A:

      The supplier ' s quoted price represents the true end final cost of purchase


      Correct
    • Option B:

      Every purchase represents an ' iceberg of costs of which the price it the ' tip '


      Correct
    • Option C:

      The supplier ' s quoted price includes direct costs only and therefore other costs should be estimated


      Correct
    • Option D:

      All quoted prices are exaggerated and therefore discounts must be demanded to save costs

      Correct
    Show Answer & Explanation Hide Answer & Explanation

    Correct Answer: B

  3. Question 3

    Single answer

    GSC Ltd is a manufacturer of car parts. To accommodate growing demands of electric cars, the company is developing a new component which requires different type of steel. The project team estimates that the component will be ready for production in 1.5 years. Until then, they need to keep the production busy.

    After checking the inventory records, the production team sees that the company has 3 months of stock. The lead time for each batch is two months. Which of the following should be a priority ac-tion of the company?

    • Option A:

      Create new specification to new supplier


      Correct
    • Option B:

      Standardise the specification


      Correct
    • Option C:

      Create new specification to current supplier


      Correct
    • Option D:

      Make a call-off order to current supplier

      Correct
    Show Answer & Explanation Hide Answer & Explanation

    Correct Answer: D

    Explanation

    The scenario is very long with many distracting data. Students need to read carefully and use their experience to solve this problem.

    The company is developing a new component which requires different type of material. But this component will not be available for mass production in 1.5 years. This means the company still needs to produce the current components with current materials until the development is finished. They must continue purchase the materials from current supplier through call-off orders. This situation is an example of straight re-buy.

    [Reference: CIPS study guide page 3, LO 1, AC 1.1, , , ]
  4. Question 4

    Single answer

    Sealines Inc is developing its fleet of cargo ships. The company is planning to build a new ship powered by natural gas. Brian, the procurement manager at Sealines, suggests the project team to develop a through-life specification before engaging with the supplier. Is this a correct approach?

    • Option A:

      Yes, decommissioning and disposal costs will not be accounted in this approach


      Correct
    • Option B:

      Yes, this approach will lower the total cost of ownership


      Correct
    • Option C:

      No, a ship is used only once, through-life management is unnecessary


      Correct
    • Option D:

      No, the company just needs to select the lowest bidder

      Correct
    Show Answer & Explanation Hide Answer & Explanation

    Correct Answer: B

    Explanation

    Through-life management is a approach applied to capital asset. According to Ward and Graves, Through-life Management involves the life-cycle management of the products, services and activities required to deliver a fully integrated capability to the customer, while reducing the cost of ownership for the customer. According to CIPS study guide, through-life management comprises of 6 parts:

    1. Design

    2. Manufacture

    3. Installation

    4. In-service support

    5. Decommission and disposal

    6. Customer support

    In this scenario, the company is planning to procure a ship, which is a capital asset. Through life management is a good approach. Sealines can start with developing through-life specification. This approach may have several benefits:

    - It lowers the costs over the whole life of the asset

    - It lowers the risks as there is a single company accountable for costs and service over the life of the asset

    - A closer match between the asset delivered and the users ' needs

    - Development of capability over the life of the asset as the supplier continues to get experience of the users ' needs and can adapt services to meet them.

    [Reference:, - CIPS study guide page 130-131;, - Through-life management: The provision of total customer solutions in the aerospace industry, by Yvonne Ward and Andrew Graves, LO 3, AC 3.2, , , ]
  5. Question 5

    Single answer

    Variances occur when there are differences between the budgeted costs and the actual costs. When are labour cost variances likely to arise?

    When the sales prices change over time due to inflation

    When there is more overtime than is expected

    When a different wage grade of worker is used to complete a task than was planned for

    When the supplier changes from manual to electronic invoicing systems for all transactions

    • Option A:

      2 and 3 only


      Correct
    • Option B:

      2 and 4 only


      Correct
    • Option C:

      1 and 2 only


      Correct
    • Option D:

      1 and 3 only

      Correct
    Show Answer & Explanation Hide Answer & Explanation

    Correct Answer: A