Free ISM LEAD Exam Questions

A supply management department has recently received resignations from several important staff members. Exit interviews indicate that the primary reason for the staff members’ departure was frustration over their expertise not being valued. They also viewed their work as repetitive and not an efficient use of their time or effort. Which of the following would be the BEST way for the department manager to improve this situation? 

A supply management audit finds that sole source purchases have increased significantly due to the inexperience of the sourcing team, and that the waiving of competition is not justified in many cases. This has resulted in increased costs, as well as noncompliance with organizational policies requiring competitive solicitations. Which of the following is the BEST way to rectify this situation?

Two gourmet food companies merge, and the combined entity attains an increase in its market share. The firm is considering an expansion of its product line, but material costs have risen and stock shortages are creating problems which need to be resolved before any expansion takes place. The firm’s supply managers find that no clear definition of responsibilities was outlined during the merger process for several commodity categories. Which of the following did executive management fail to address? 

A firm's human resources (HR) department would like to expand a successful training program butdoes not have funding to do so. The firm's supply manager believes that strategic sourcing of other HR spend categories can reduce costs to provide funding for the training program. Which of the following influencing tactics should the supply manager use FIRST in order to convince HR to employ strategic sourcing? 

A new buyer is hired, and over time the department supervisor notices the buyer's writing style is consistently unprofessional. To improve the buyer's written communications, the supervisor edits several of the buyer's memos, and returns them with a note as an example of how company communications should be written. However, this does not result in any changes in the buyer’s writing style. How should the supervisor rate the "written communication" portion of the buyer's performance review?