CPSD study materials
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CPSD study plan

CPSD · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 6 hours per week

Week 1

Supplier diversity program strategy and governance

  • Define the core components of a supplier diversity program strategy, including mission, scope, and integration with corporate values.

  • Identify the key roles and responsibilities of a supplier diversity governance structure (e.g., executive sponsor, program manager, cross-functional council).

  • Map the decision-making authority and escalation paths for supplier diversity initiatives within a typical organization.

  • Draft a one-page governance charter outline that specifies reporting lines and accountability.

Your checkpoint

A 1-page governance charter outline with at least 5 key roles and 3 decision-making processes.

Week 2

Supplier diversity program strategy and governance & Stakeholder engagement, communications, and business case

  • Analyze how supplier diversity strategy aligns with overall procurement and business goals, including risk mitigation and innovation.

  • Develop a business case for supplier diversity that quantifies potential benefits (e.g., market access, cost savings, brand enhancement).

  • Identify internal and external stakeholders and their interests, and outline an engagement approach for each.

  • Create a communication plan template for promoting supplier diversity internally and externally.

Your checkpoint

A 2-page business case document with at least 3 quantified benefits and a stakeholder engagement matrix.

Week 3

Supplier identification, qualification, and certification

  • Describe methods for identifying potential diverse suppliers, including databases, certifications, and outreach events.

  • Outline the qualification criteria for diverse suppliers, such as financial stability, capacity, and compliance with regulations.

  • Explain the certification process for different diverse supplier categories (e.g., minority-, women-, veteran-owned) and the role of third-party certifying bodies.

  • Compare at least three certification bodies and their requirements.

Your checkpoint

A supplier qualification checklist with at least 10 criteria and a comparison table of 3 certification bodies.

Week 4

Sourcing, procurement, and contracting with diverse suppliers

  • Identify sourcing strategies that effectively include diverse suppliers, such as set-asides, tiered bidding, and unbundling of contracts.

  • Outline the steps in the procurement process and where to integrate supplier diversity considerations.

  • Describe contract clauses that support supplier diversity, including reporting requirements and subcontracting plans.

  • Develop a negotiation plan for contracting with a diverse supplier, addressing potential risks and capacity concerns.

Your checkpoint

A sample contract clause for supplier diversity reporting and a negotiation checklist with at least 5 points.

Week 5

Supplier development, capacity building, and mentoring & Tier 2 / subcontracting spend reporting and advocacy

  • Design a supplier development program that includes mentoring, training, and capacity-building activities.

  • Explain the concept of Tier 2 subcontracting spend and its importance in supplier diversity programs.

  • Identify methods for tracking and reporting Tier 2 spend, including data collection and validation.

  • Create a mentoring plan outline for a diverse supplier, including objectives and timelines.

Your checkpoint

A Tier 2 spend reporting template with data fields and a mentoring plan outline for one supplier.

Week 6

Regulatory, compliance, and ethical considerations

  • Summarize key regulations and compliance requirements related to supplier diversity (e.g., government contracting rules, anti-discrimination laws).

  • Identify ethical considerations in supplier diversity, such as avoiding tokenism and ensuring genuine opportunities.

  • Outline a compliance monitoring process for a supplier diversity program.

  • Develop a risk mitigation plan for common compliance issues.

Your checkpoint

A compliance checklist with at least 8 regulatory and ethical points and a risk mitigation plan for 3 scenarios.

Week 7

Spend analytics, metrics, and program measurement

  • Define key performance indicators (KPIs) for supplier diversity programs, such as diverse spend percentage, number of diverse suppliers, and Tier 2 spend.

  • Explain how to collect, analyze, and report spend data accurately.

  • Create a dashboard mockup that visualizes supplier diversity metrics.

  • Calculate diverse spend percentage given sample data.

Your checkpoint

A metrics dashboard mockup with at least 5 KPIs and a sample calculation of diverse spend percentage.

Week 8

Stakeholder engagement, communications, and business case & Supplier diversity program strategy and governance & Spend analytics, metrics, and program measurement

  • Develop a communication strategy to promote supplier diversity successes and lessons learned to stakeholders.

  • Review and synthesize all previous weeks' materials to create a cohesive program summary.

  • Practice explaining the business case for supplier diversity to an executive audience.

  • Identify areas for continuous improvement in a supplier diversity program.

Your checkpoint

A 5-minute presentation script and slides summarizing the supplier diversity program strategy, metrics, and business case.

Milestones

Week 2: Complete a draft business case and stakeholder engagement plan, validated by at least one peer or mentor.

Week 4: Successfully answer 80% of practice questions on Domains 1-3.

Week 6: Complete a compliance checklist and risk mitigation plan, reviewed for accuracy.

Week 8: Deliver a 5-minute presentation and score at least 85% on a full-length practice exam.