CIPS L4M4 - Ethical and Responsible Sourcing

Addressing human rights issues collaboratively by developing an action plan allows for improvement and correction. This approach is consistent with ethical sourcing principles, which encourage responsible intervention to correct and improve supply chain practices rather than punitive measures that may not lead to long-term change.

Explanation

The correct answers are; lead times, product competition and changes in the marketplace.

You wouldn't expect to receive samples or costings from a Request for Information - rather, these should be expected as part of the Tender Competition

Explanation

A bribe is anything that is of value to the recipient. It’s commonly money, but could also be an item such as a car, or doing someone a favour such as hiring their son.

Explanation

you would use a restricted approach when interest is likely to be high. The buyer needs a method of de-selecting unsuitable bidders and creating a shortlist of acceptable organisations.

For complex requirements you could use both an open or restrictive tender- the difference between the approaches is about how many bids you're likely to get rather than the complexity of it.

ITT is appropriate for complex/high-value procurements needing detailed submissions and robust evaluation. RFQ suits simple, well-specified, lower-value buys where price comparison is primary.

Standards, such as ISO or BS norms, establish clear, universally recognised benchmarks for quality, safety, and performance. Including them in specifications reduces ambiguity, ensuring suppliers know exactly what is required and how compliance will be measured. They do not automatically guarantee lowest pricing or cover all unique buyer requirements. Instead, they improve comparability, fairness, and governance in tendering. Responsible sourcing emphasises use of recognised standards to ensure safety, ethical compliance, and consistent quality, particularly in sensitive categories like healthcare, where patient safety and continuity of service are paramount.

Governance of ethical and sustainable behaviour focuses on ensuring suppliers have the right systems, policies, and transparency measures in place. Reviewing insurance clauses ensures suppliers are prepared to manage liability and risks responsibly. Checking conflict of interest registers promotes transparency and prevents corruption. By contrast, NDAs protect confidentiality but are not primarily ethical governance tools, and simply checking “up-to-date policies” without context may not guarantee compliance. CIPS highlights governance mechanisms such as audits, policy reviews, and conflict registers as integral to monitoring ethical performance and ensuring accountability.

The gross profit margin ratio is calculated by subtracting the cost of goods sold (COGS) from income from sales, then dividing by income from sales. This ratio indicates the profitability of a supplier, a critical factor in assessing financial health, which helps buyers ensure reliable supply continuity.

Ordering in November, when demand is lowest, may allow the buyer to secure better pricing and availability, aligning with responsible sourcing by optimizing purchase timing to achieve cost savings and reliable supply.

Informing suppliers of non-conformances and improvement opportunities supports responsible sourcing by promoting continuous improvement. Preparing a report for supplier review also aligns with transparency and collaborative improvement, integral to ethical sourcing standards.