What effect is technology having on jobs within an organization with which you are familiar with?

See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
Refer to the question column for response

Describe three types of fraud that could occur within the supply chain of an organization with which you are familiar.

See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
Fraud occurs when a person acts deliberately to secure monies from another party through dishonest method.
Within the supply chain of an organization, fraud can represent itself in the following ways:
1. Kickbacks: e.g. (commission given to a bribe taker for service perform)
2. Corrupt influence (e.g ordering more than what is required)
3. Collusion: (group of suppliers working together to submit multiple bids and split profit.
4. Bid Rigging (a contract is informally agreed with a chosen supplier prior to the official process
5. invoicing fraud
6. Substitution (submitting products that are below the required quality
7. False claims (files false document)
Case Study
A series of news stories reporting events such as the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in 2013 have drawn attention to the poor conditions in garment factories across India and South East Asia. Human rights groups have long be critical of the excessive hours and poor wages workers are forced to endure, as well as the abuse they receive from supervisor. With consumers becoming increasingly aware of these conditions, more pressure is being put on global brands and retailers to ensure their supply chains are fair and ethical.
Certain areas have been notorious for the mistreatment of workers. In India's textile valley', young women are been bound into contracts where they work for two to three years, in exchange for a lump sum of money that they can then put towards a dowry. This is known as the 'Sumangali [a married woman] Thittam' scheme. These women are forced to live in hostels under restrictions that prevent them from moving, and are denied the opportunity to improve their living conditions. Retailers including Walmart and H & M are known to source garments from factories in the 'textile valley'.
Reports by organizations including the Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA), Central Combodia, Global Labor Justice, Sedane Labour Resource Centre (LIPS) Indonesia, and Society for Labour and Development (SLD) India have exposed unethically run factories that supply garments to H & M, Gap and Walmart. However, retailers will continue to benefit from expensive labour until mounting customers pressure causes them to change.

Looking at stage 8 of the procurement and supply cycle, what does TCA mean?

See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
When evaluating offers, it is important to remember that the best price may not be the lowest. To ascertain that; the total cost of Acquisition TCA (the cost a buyer bears for placing orders and re-ceiving a product from a supplier) should be uncovered and compare against offers received. Things to consider that might make up the total cost of acquisition are;
1) logistics and handling costs
2) Cost of requisition
3) Rework
4) stock cost
5) Delay
6) Inspection
7) customer services
8) consumables
9) Training & support

Using the case study about Toyata, which type of benchmarking Tada has used when comparing the Toyata with Porsche?

See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
Benchmarking is the process of comparing a function, process or performance with another which is best-in- class. Benchmarking is either internal or external. External benchmarking has three types;
1) Competition benchmarking,
2) Functional
3) Generic
Company Toyota with the Porsche a competition in the same industry and by suggesting that drives will find the cars performances comparable with that of Porsche Cayman sports car, suggest think it is an external competitive benchmark.
* Refer to the question column for response

Maximum Score: 25
Explain the elements that Lucie should include in her analysis based on whole-life asset management.
(25 marks)
Water Works Limited
11
Water Works Limited is the regulated public authority for the provision of clean and waste water services in the Southern region. The procurement manager, Lucie James, has been asked to review the contract for the supply of vehicles across Water Works' ten regional offices. The vehicles are currently hired from Vehicle Press, but several vehicle breakdowns have created operational issues on Water Works sites. There are currently 200 vehicles in the fleet. Some of these are now several years old and running costs are increasing.
Lucie reviewed the contract with Vehicle Press and is aware that the expiry date of the contract is at the end of the current year. Water Works has the option to extend the contract. Lucie undertakes a review of Vehicle Press' contract performance and the specification for vehicles, together with the number of vehicles that will be required in the future. Following this, Lucie presents the analysis of the options available to the operations director, Anna Cabo, in a procurement strategy report. Lucie's report presents the following three options;
1. Extend the contract with Vehicle Press Limited for the hire of the vehicles 2. Re-tender the contract to the open market for the provision of hired vehicles Purchase the vehicles instead of hiring them from the open market.
3.
3. Purchase the vehicles instead of hiring them from the open market. Anna's decision is to progress with option three to purchase the vehicles, as there are capital funds available for strategic purchases in the current year. To proceed, Anna must generate a business case for presentation to the senior leadership team. Anna asks Lucie to prepare a detailed whole life asset management analysis for the provision of the vehicles to support her business case.

See the answer in explanation.below.
Explanation:
3. Explain the elements that Lucie should include in her analysis based on whole-life asset management.
(25 marks)
Whole-life asset management means evaluating the total cost and value of an asset over its full life , not just the initial purchase price. CIPS explains this as whole-life costing / total cost of ownership , covering acquisition, usage and end-of-life costs. ISO 55000 also states that asset management should consider assets over their life cycles to realise value for the organisation.
In Water Works' case, Lucie should include the following elements in her analysis of purchasing the 200 vehicles.
1. Initial acquisition costs
Lucie should first calculate the purchase price of the vehicles. This includes not only the price of each vehicle, but also delivery charges, registration, taxes, any fit-out requirements, signage, tracking systems and initial insurance. This is important because the capital cost will be high for a fleet of 200 vehicles, so the business case must show the full upfront investment rather than just the list price. CIPS notes that whole-life costing includes purchase price and acquisition cost .
2. Operating and running costs
A major element is the cost of operating the vehicles during their working life. Lucie should estimate fuel or energy costs, servicing, maintenance, repairs, tyres, road tax and insurance. This is especially relevant because the case states that some current vehicles are several years old and running costs are increasing . Therefore, Lucie should compare the likely running costs of new vehicles with the current hired fleet to show whether ownership offers better long-term value. CIPS identifies usage cost as a core part of total cost of ownership.
3. Reliability and performance
Lucie should assess how reliable the vehicles are expected to be over time. The case already mentions several breakdowns causing operational issues on Water Works sites. Therefore, her analysis should include the likely cost of breakdowns, lost productivity, missed site visits, delays to operations and possible emergency replacement vehicles. This is important because a cheaper vehicle may not represent best value if it is unreliable and disrupts service delivery. Whole-life asset management is about the value delivered over the asset life, not only cost. ISO guidance emphasises value, risk and outcomes across the lifecycle.
4. Maintenance strategy and support arrangements
Lucie should include how the vehicles will be maintained once purchased. For example, she should assess whether servicing will be outsourced, managed through manufacturer warranties, or supported by local garages across the ten regional offices. She should also consider the availability of spare parts and support response times. This matters because purchasing the fleet transfers more responsibility for asset upkeep to Water Works compared with hiring.
5. Asset life and replacement cycle
Another important element is the expected useful life of the vehicles. Lucie should estimate how long the vehicles will remain economically and operationally effective before replacement is needed. This should include mileage, intensity of use, operating conditions and likely deterioration. Since Water Works operates across ten regional offices, some vehicles may experience heavier use than others. A whole-life analysis should therefore include assumptions on replacement timing and fleet renewal planning.
6. Residual value and disposal value
Lucie should include the likely residual value of the vehicles at the end of their useful life. If Water Works owns the vehicles, they may be sold, traded in or auctioned. This means the organisation may recover some value at the end of the asset life. She should also include any disposal costs, such as decommissioning, collection, administration or environmentally compliant disposal. CIPS notes that whole-life costing includes end-of-life cost .
7. Financing and cost of capital
Although capital funds are available, Lucie should still consider the financial impact of tying up funds in vehicle ownership. The analysis should show whether using capital for vehicles represents best value compared with other strategic uses of funds. She may also include depreciation and the effect on budgets over time. This is important because purchasing assets creates a different financial commitment from hiring them.
8. Specification and fitness for purpose
Lucie should review whether the chosen vehicles meet operational needs. This includes vehicle size, load capacity, durability, fuel efficiency, suitability for site conditions and any specialist requirements for water service operations. A whole-life approach requires the asset to be fit for purpose, because a poor specification can increase maintenance costs and reduce operational value later in the lifecycle.
9. Risk analysis
Lucie should include risks associated with ownership. These may include unexpected repair costs, changes in fuel prices, asset obsolescence, poor resale values, non-availability of parts and the risk that operational needs change during the asset life. She should compare these ownership risks with the risks under hiring arrangements. ISO 55000 highlights that asset management should consider risks and opportunities throughout the lifecycle .
10. Sustainability and regulatory factors
As a regulated public authority, Water Works should also consider environmental and regulatory issues.
Lucie's analysis should include emissions, fuel efficiency, possible transition to lower-emission vehicles, compliance requirements and disposal obligations. This is relevant because public sector organisations are expected to consider long-term environmental impact as well as cost.
11. Whole-life comparison against hiring
Finally, Lucie should compare the total whole-life cost of buying against the alternatives of extending the current hire contract or re-tendering for hired vehicles . This comparison should include all acquisition, usage, maintenance and end-of-life costs, as well as service reliability and operational value. CIPS describes whole-life costing as an end-to-end cost estimate to support procurement decisions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Lucie's whole-life asset management analysis should not focus only on the purchase price of the vehicles. It should include acquisition costs, operating costs, maintenance, reliability, useful life, replacement cycle, residual value, disposal costs, finance implications, specification, risk and sustainability considerations . By analysing all these elements, Lucie can show whether purchasing the fleet gives Water Works better long-term value than continuing to hire vehicles. This is the main purpose of whole- life asset management.