CIPS case studies
CIPS · Put your knowledge to work in context.
CIPS Procurement Qualifications are the professional credentials offered by CIPS, the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, for people who buy, source, contract, or manage suppliers on behalf of an organisation. They suit candidates moving into procurement from operations, finance, projects, or supply chain roles, as well as experienced practitioners who want a structured, externally recognised marker of competence. Because the qualifications are modular and build from operational buying through to strategic and leadership-level practice, they are also used by employers as a development pathway for procurement teams. The syllabus areas centre on four connected themes. The CIPS case studies are 5 cases and about 3,138 words.
1Laptop refresh against a fixed deadline
A UK further-education college must replace 600 staff laptops before 31 March, when its device warranty and software-compliance programme expires. The budget is £420,000 excluding VAT.
549 words, about 3 min2Orthopaedic implant standardisation
An NHS trust spends £2.8m a year on primary hip and knee implants across three hospitals. Six suppliers are used, but 14 implant variants are stocked; two suppliers account for 71% of volume.
666 words, about 3 min3FM underperformance and an inflation claim
A university has a five-year facilities management contract worth £6m a year, with 18 months remaining. Cleaning KPIs have been missed for three consecutive quarters; service credits average £8,000 a month.
662 words, about 3 min4Probity in a waste tender
A local authority is evaluating four bids for a seven-year waste collection contract worth £22m. The panel includes a waste manager who holds £15,000 of shares in Bidder B through a managed fund; an operations lead whose brother is a depot supervisor employed by Bidder C; and a finance officer who accepted a £120 dinner from Bidder A at a conference.
651 words, about 3 min5Fleet replacement and whole-life cost
A district council must replace 120 diesel vans. Two compliant bids are received for a five-year contract.
610 words, about 3 min