These items follow a cyclical demand pattern, meaning that sales fluctuate in predictable cycles-typically aligned with seasons or climate conditions. For example, demand peaks in summer and falls sharply in winter. Recognising cyclical patterns allows procurement professionals to plan supply and inventory effectively, avoiding both shortages during peak demand and excess stock during low demand periods. This type of forecasting is particularly important in industries such as fashion, tourism, and consumer goods.
Failing to account for cyclical demand can lead to missed sales opportunities or increased storage costs. In category management, understanding demand cycles ensures efficient resource allocation, supplier scheduling, and financial planning. It also supports collaborative planning with suppliers to ensure capacity aligns with market needs.
Reference: CIPS L5M6 Study Guide, p.143

The most effective approaches are:
* Limiting dependence on one supplier [B]: CIPS suggests no more than 30% of spend should be concentrated with a single supplier. This reduces exposure if that supplier becomes insolvent or fails to deliver.
* Having contingency plans [D]: Preparing alternative suppliers, safety stock, or emergency logistics ensures continuity in case of failure.
Options A and C are poor practices:
* Using fewer suppliers [A]: Increases dependency, making the business more vulnerable.
* Using small start-ups exclusively [C]: Increases risk because these firms often lack financial stability.
These strategies align with broader supply risk management principles, which focus on diversification, resilience, and proactive planning. Effective category managers must balance efficiency with risk reduction, ensuring supply continuity without over-consolidating.
[Ref: CIPS L5M6 Study Guide, p.57 - Supplier risk mitigation strategies]

Supply chain risks are risks that involve suppliers or logistics networks and have a direct impact on procurement performance. Poorly defined contract terms (Option A) may cause service failure, while delays due to port strikes (Option D) disrupt inbound logistics. These are classic supply chain risks because they are linked to supplier performance or external logistics factors. By contrast, lightning striking HQ is an internal operational risk, and a consultant giving poor advice is a professional service risk rather than a direct supply chain issue. For procurement, identifying supply chain risks is critical to developing mitigation strategies such as alternative suppliers, buffer stock, or stronger contractual clauses. Risk assessment frameworks like the likelihood/severity matrix help prioritise which risks to address first.
Reference: CIPS L5M6 Study Guide, p.56

Pareto Analysis identifies the "vital few" issues that cause the majority of problems, usually presented as the
80/20 rule. While it is useful for prioritisation, its limitation is that it only highlights the frequency of issues and not the root causes behind them. In James's example, identifying that "website errors" are the top cause of complaints is useful, but it doesn't explain why the errors occur. Therefore, further investigation such as root cause analysis or process mapping is required to implement corrective action. Another limitation is that Pareto analysis is based on quantitative data only, not qualitative, meaning it cannot capture customer perceptions or subjective insights. This reinforces the need to use Pareto in conjunction with other diagnostic tools for effective problem solving. In practice, category managers must use Pareto as a screening tool to highlight priorities and then follow with more detailed analysis to ensure improvements are sustainable.
Reference: CIPS L5M6 Study Guide, p.93

Kaizen translates to "continuous improvement" in Japanese. It is a philosophy that encourages making small, incremental changes that collectively lead to significant performance enhancements over time. Within procurement and category management, Kaizen focuses on ongoing collaboration with suppliers to identify ways to reduce waste, improve quality, and optimise processes. Unlike one-off cost-reduction initiatives, Kaizen is embedded in the organisational culture and requires engagement from all levels of the supply chain.
For example, small adjustments in packaging design might reduce material use, leading to cost savings and environmental benefits. This approach fosters long-term supplier partnerships and supports innovation. In competitive markets, organisations that adopt Kaizen are more resilient and adaptable, making it a key concept for category managers to understand.
Reference: CIPS L5M6 Study Guide, p.40