A company is planning the procurement of an IT system and wants to agree a through-life contract with the supplier to ensure ongoing system support. The first step in producing that specification should be to:
Writing a high-quality specification is very crucial in every purchase. In through-life management, it is even more important since the assets often have very high value. Defining user requirement is the first step to write a specification. Without doing this right, many problems may arise in later stages.
LO 3, AC 3.2
Which of the following might be the consequences of under-specification? Select TWO that apply:
Main risks involved in an under-specified requirement
* The product or service is not fit for use since it does not match the actual needs
* Higher cost due to corrections or reworks (proposal evaluations, scope or work monitoring, change in insulation materials or systems, reduced productivity, etc.).
* Higher operating cost on many fronts: process control, energy consumption, maintenance, etc.
* Other problems like corrosion under insulation, mold development, safety-related concerns, etc.
LO 3, AC 3.3
Aldar Properties is a property developer in UAE. In last month, it spent $2,160 for 10 tons of steel. In this month, it had planned 10% increment in budget for steel comparing to last month. But the number of orders boosted and total spend on steel reached $1,992.1 while Aldar has imported 11 tons. What is the main cost driver of steel budget?
In this question, you have to calculate price variance and quantity variance.
Last month, 1 tonne of steel costed $216. This month, the price decreases to $181.1. Price variance = (P1 - P2)*Q2 = ($216-$181.1)*11 = $383.9
Quantity variance = (Q1-Q2)*P1 = -$216
Price variance is greater than quantity variance, therefore, price variance is the main cost driver.
LO 1, AC 1.4
Why should the buying organisation require the supplier to carry out acceptance testing?
Acceptance testing, in the context of the engineering and software industries, is a functional trial performed on a product or prototype before it is put on the market or delivered, to decide whether the specifications or contract have been met. It also makes sure the quality and design of the product meet both contractual and regulatory obligations in terms of functionality, usability, durability, and safety.
If a product is found to be unacceptable at this stage, it can be sent back for modification, debug-ging, repair, or re-design before it can become a costly undertaking for the producer, as would be the case in a product recall.
- CIPS study guide page 134-135
- Acceptance Testing (investopedia.com)
LO 3, AC 3.2
Which of the following are typically included in a conformance specification? Select TWO that apply.
A conformance specification is a specification that defines the technical and physical characteristics and/or measurements of a product, such as physical aspects (e.g. dimensions, colour, and surface finish), design details, material properties, energy requirements, processes, maintenance requirements and operational requirements.
On the other hand, performance specification typically includes list of output or outcome or func-tional requirements. Brand name can be a part of performance specification because brand is a re-minder of quality that customers remember. For example, when talking about Roll Royce, people will think about an elegant car.
LO 3, AC 3.1
