CIPS Exam Report for Learner Community:

Transcription

1 CIPS Exam Report for Learner Community: Qualification: Advanced diploma in procurement and supply Unit: AD1 - Management in P&S Exam series: Jan 2017 Each element of a question carries equal weighting unless otherwise stated. Question 1 Learning Outcome 1 Examine the influence of organisational culture on the behaviour of the procurement team and its individual team members at TMD. 25 marks Learning outcome addressed: 1.2 Command word explanation: Examine provide both a description and an explanation of something Good answers explored culture within the organisation and the impact on the procurement team and individual team members referring to factors such as: Analysis of management and leadership styles used within TMD Motivation of the workforce and team members extracting examples from the case study to reinforce the answer Team dynamics in terms of how well the team operates and whether it pulls together in difficult times Communication how well communication flows. Whether it is one way or two way, top down or bottom up? Organisational structure has the organisation many layers or is it a flat type of structure? Organisational behaviour is it a blame culture or can do culture. Organisational performance are managers and staff achieving targets set? Under achievement of the procurement spending target would be a good example of this to mention in the answer. Better answers were able to not only cite the range of factors mentioned earlier but link them to appropriate theory such as Drennan, the Cultural Web and Hofstede s Dimensions of Culture. JANUARY 2017_AD1_EXAM REPORT _LEARNER_COMMUNITY_FV 1/6

2 Examples of poorer content included answers covering limited factors or gave a lack of detail and showed limited knowledge of theory and practice. Concluding comment: Overall, a reasonable response was given to this question. Question 2 Learning Outcome 2 (a) Explain the relationship between job design and job satisfaction. Use examples from TMD to support your answer. (b) Suggest TWO approaches that the procurement manager at TMD might use to improve the motivation of procurement staff. (a) Learning outcome addressed: marks 12 marks Command word explanation: Explain give reasons for or account for something Good content that explained the relationship between job design and job satisfaction included: the range of activities and responsibilities of the post-holder an appreciation that job design can encourage or discourage a member of staff the importance of updating a job description and person specification Use of appropriate theory e.g. Herzberg job rotation, job enlargement and job enrichment Specific examples that demonstrated this from the case study included: Non-achievement of objectives Working to contracted hours Lack of socialising High staff turnover Slow decision making Top down communication. Better answers used a range of theorist s work to develop their responses including Hackman and Oldham, Maslow, Herzberg and McGregor. JANUARY 2017_AD1_EXAM REPORT _LEARNER_COMMUNITY_FV 2/6

3 Poor answers either used the question as an opportunity for a theory dump or did not get the link between job design and job satisfaction. Concluding comment: Overall a quite well answered question in which most candidates were able to demonstrate a good knowledge of job design and job satisfaction. (b) Learning outcome addressed: 2.3 Command word explanation: Suggest give the most appropriate answer or answers Good content included practical approaches that the procurement manager at TMD might take to motivate staff at TMD such as: team meetings away days social events recognition for good performance Rewarding team members for work well done Alternatively, answers could explore more academically focused responses based on motivational theories such as: Maslow s Hierarchy of Needs Herzberg Two factor theory Herzberg s theory of job rotation, job enlargement and job enrichment McGregor s X and Y Theory. Better answers used a combination of practical approaches with underpinning theories to address the issues in the case study and put forward ideas for improvement. Poor answers either used this question as a theory dump or had limited practical knowledge of how to motivate a team. JANUARY 2017_AD1_EXAM REPORT _LEARNER_COMMUNITY_FV 3/6

4 Question 3 Learning Outcome 3 Suggest FIVE ways in which effective teamworking could contribute to improved performance in the procurement and supply function at TMD. 25 marks Learning outcome addressed: 3.1 Command word explanation: Suggest give the most appropriate answer or answers Good answers which explored ways in which effective team working could contribute to improved team performance in the procurement and supply function at TMD, chose five from the following: increased profits synergy the team working together producing better results improved communication within the team empowerment ensuring that work is divided out within the team and assigned to the most suitable and competent member of the team innovation new ideas that will lead to improved processes and new products and services better problem solving - to resolve issues within the organisation effective leadership that can lead to a more motivated workforce and the achievement of agreed targets All these outcomes can contribute to improved performance at TMD. Better answers not only used the factors mentioned above but also applied appropriate theories such as Belbin, Tuckman and Jensen, Woodcock and Mullins and applied them well to the case study. Poor answers struggled to find five ways that effective team working helps or could not remember appropriate theories or struggled to relate the response back to the case study. Concluding comment: A quite well answered question in which many candidates understood the importance of effective team working and how that could contribute to the procurement and supply function at TMD. JANUARY 2017_AD1_EXAM REPORT _LEARNER_COMMUNITY_FV 4/6

5 Question 4 Learning Outcome 4 (a) Outline THREE advantages for TMD of introducing a formalised approach to human resource management (HRM). (b) Discuss how the recruitment and selection process at TMD might be improved to recruit and retain procurement staff with the appropriate skills and knowledge. (a) Learning outcome addressed: marks 16 marks Command word explanation: Outline give the main features, facts or the general idea of something Good answers that outlined three advantages of TMD introducing a formalised approach to human resource management included: a best practice approach to human resource management (HRM) the associated benefits such as compliance, retention of staff and less absenteeism a better motivated team a more standardised approach to working practices including agreed policies and procedures for TMD Better answers acknowledged the importance of HRM and were able to develop the points in more detail. Poor answers lacked depth and were unable to cite three advantages. Concluding comment: On the whole, a well answered question for what proved to be the most popular question on the examination paper. Learning outcome addressed: 4.3 Command word explanation: Discuss consider something by writing about it from different points of view JANUARY 2017_AD1_EXAM REPORT _LEARNER_COMMUNITY_FV 5/6

6 Good content that showed how an effective recruitment and selection process at TMD could recruit and retain procurement staff at TMD included: drawing up a better-informed job description and person specification widening the advertising of the position through recruitment agencies, journals, suitable newspapers or social media (i.e. LinkedIn) more intensive interviewing techniques an assessment centre approach introduction of applications rather than CVs informing successful and unsuccessful candidates of the outcome of the recruitment and selection process review of the whole process. Better answers gave a thorough step by step approach to recruitment and selection linking it back to the issues in the case study. Poor answers missed stages out of the recruitment and selection process or lacked ideas for improvement and/or contextualisation. Concluding comment: The most popular question on the examination paper in which most candidates scored high marks. JANUARY 2017_AD1_EXAM REPORT _LEARNER_COMMUNITY_FV 6/6