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Graduate Diploma Foundation Stage Syllabus
AIM
To provide an introduction to current
issues impacting on the competitive position of the organisation.
RATIONALE
Organisations in the private and
public sectors are confronted by a number of external pressures which affect
them. In an environment where change is the rule, especially as the global
economy becomes more integrated, it is essential that those responsible for
purchasing are both aware of the changes and able to respond to them.
1.
Business Purpose
(a)
Organisational objectives in context.
(b)
Planned economy, Market economy, Mixed economy models.
(c)
Stakeholders in the modern mixed economy.
In the assessment the candidate may
be required to:
explain the purpose and objectives of organisations and relate this to their
context
evaluate different approaches to the allocation of society's resources
demonstrate an understanding of the interests of different stakeholders exerting
an influence on both private and public sector organisations. (weighting 10%)
2.
The Competitive Environment
(a)
Understanding demand and supply in a purchasing and supply context.
(b)
Market structure and its impact on purchasing and supply decisions, including
strategic options and elasticity.
(c)
Competition and regulation.
In the assessment the candidate may
be required to:
use supply and demand diagrams to evaluate the effects of changes in the
business environment on organisations in general, and on their procurement
activities in particular
describe the different types of market structure
evaluate the implications of different types of market structure for
organizations and relate this to the work of the procurement specialist
demonstrate an understanding of the regulatory framework, and barriers to entry
and exit to an industry/market. (weighting 25%)
3. Threats and Opportunities
(a)
Interpreting environmental signals.
(b)
Dealing with environmental threats and opportunities: from analysis to
adaptation and active management of the business environment.
In the assessment the candidate may
be required to:
outline different approaches to, and demonstrate an understanding of the
difficulties of, identifying environmental threats and opportunities
identify the ways in which organisations can deal with environmental threats and
opportunities, and consider the contribution that the purchasing and supply
specialist can make to this. (weighting 20%)
4. Understanding the broader
Business Environment
With particular reference to the
implications for purchasing and supply the following dimensions of the broader
business environment will be investigated:
(a)
Economic (macro-economic factors).
(b)
Political, legal, and regulatory framework in both private and public sectors.
(c)
Impact of technology.
(d)
Social, cultural and ethical issues for purchasing.
(e)
International, Global and European issues.
In the assessment the candidate may
be required to:
identify the global and local factors affecting a business
demonstrate an understanding of the tools available to analyse different
dimensions of the business environment
evaluate the effect of a change in one or more dimension of the broader business
environment on the purchasing and supply function of an organisation. (weighting
35%)
5. Corporate Responsibility and
the Business Environment
(a)
Corporate responsibility and the responsibilities of the procurement specialist.
(b)
Business ethics in context: stakeholder theory, social norms, and the ethics
business.
(c)
Business responses to natural environmental issues, and other aspects of 'market
failure'.
In
the assessment the candidate may be required to:
explain the role played by ethical and social responsibility in determining
corporate business policy in general, and that of the procurement specialist in
particular
understand the broader context in which business ethics are determined
identify the main issues that arise from 'market failure' and relate this to the
work of the procurement specialist. (weighting 10%)
CIPS - MCG Centre Number - 005031578
