CPSP study plan

Map the end-to-end procurement cycle stages and write a one-line definition of each stage from memory

Distinguish requisition-to-pay, source-to-pay, and procure-to-pay scopes and list which steps belong to each

Compare centralized, decentralized, and center-led operating models and state two trade-offs of each

Explain the difference between direct and indirect spend and classify 15 sample purchases into each category

Define spend analysis and identify the data fields needed to run one

Calculate and interpret common supply management KPIs such as spend under management, PPV, and purchase order cycle time

Describe the steps of a competitive bid process and the conditions that justify each step

Explain how make-or-buy and total cost of ownership analyses differ and when to apply each

Outline the roles of requisitioner, buyer, approver, and accounts payable in the purchase-to-pay flow

Identify three internal control weaknesses in a described purchasing process and propose a fix for each

Build a weighted supplier evaluation matrix with at least six criteria and score three fictional suppliers

Distinguish RFI, RFP, RFQ, and reverse auction by purpose and output

Explain when single-source, dual-source, and multi-source strategies are appropriate

Describe how e-sourcing events are structured, including pre-bid, bid, and award stages

Identify the ethical risks in a sourcing event and state how to mitigate each

Explain the steps of building a category strategy from spend baseline through implementation roadmap

Apply Kraljic portfolio analysis to place eight fictional categories into leverage, strategic, bottleneck, and non-critical quadrants

Distinguish category management from sourcing and from strategic sourcing

Describe how demand management and specification rationalization reduce total category cost

Identify the data sources needed to size a category and estimate spend

Prepare a negotiation plan including BATNA, target, and reservation positions for a fictional contract

Distinguish distributive and integrative negotiation tactics and select appropriate responses to three hardball tactics

Compare contract types such as fixed-price, cost-plus, time-and-materials, and incentive arrangements and state when each fits

Identify the essential clauses in a supply agreement, including price, term, termination, liability, and force majeure

Explain how to conduct a contract risk review and escalate non-standard terms

Describe a supplier segmentation model and assign fictional suppliers to tiers with differentiated management approaches

Design a supplier scorecard with performance metrics, review cadence, and escalation triggers

Explain how supplier development and continuous improvement programs are structured

Outline a supplier onboarding and governance process including business reviews and corrective action

Identify the contract clauses that most affect supplier relationship management, such as SLAs and change control

Build a supplier risk register covering financial, operational, geopolitical, and single-source risks with likelihood and impact ratings

Explain how to map supply chain dependencies and identify concentration risk at tier-one and sub-tier levels

Describe business continuity and mitigation strategies such as dual sourcing, buffer stock, and nearshoring

Distinguish sustainability frameworks and certifications commonly used in supply chains and what each verifies

Explain how to assess supplier ethics and labor practices and how to handle a discovered violation

Identify the core capabilities of e-procurement, spend analytics, and supplier management systems and the data each produces

Explain data quality dimensions and how poor master data undermines spend analysis and reporting

Interpret a spend dashboard and describe what decisions it supports

Complete a timed mixed-domain practice set and review every missed item to its underlying concept

Build a one-page formula and definition sheet covering the highest-frequency concepts across all eight domains