CIPS L4M2 Exam - Topic 2 Question 66 Discussion

Actual exam question for CIPS's L4M2 exam

Question #: 66
Topic #: 2

[All L4M2 Questions]

Outcome specifications should be used when:

AThe quality of the goods is of no concern

BThe specifying organisation has internal expertise in the design

CThere are many ways to design the goods to reach the same performance result

DThe specifying organisation wishes to use a branded good

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: C

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation (from CIPS L4M2 -- Specification Types)

Outcome (or output) specifications define what outcome must be achieved, leaving suppliers freedom to decide how.

They are appropriate when multiple solutions can deliver the same performance.

Option C directly reflects this.

Options A, B, and D contradict the flexibility principle.

Relevant L4M2 references:

''Performance and outcome-based specifications''

''Encouraging innovation through output requirements''

by Mabel at Nov 25, 2025, 07:55 PM

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Ramonita

1 month ago

I lean towards C. It allows for creativity in solutions.

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Alexia

2 months ago

D is interesting. Branding can influence decisions.

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Karl

2 months ago

B makes sense if the organization knows what they're doing.

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Mable

2 months ago

A seems off. Quality should always matter, right?

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Tashia

2 months ago

I agree with C too. Flexibility in design is key.

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Cecilia

2 months ago

D is the way to go if you want a specific brand!

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Eva

2 months ago

I think B makes sense if they have the expertise.

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Pansy

3 months ago

Totally agree, especially with option C!

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Leonard

3 months ago

Outcome specifications are great when quality isn't a priority.

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Cherrie

3 months ago

Outcome specs? More like "out-come" specs, am I right? *wink wink*

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Stanford

4 months ago

C is the obvious choice. Who cares about the quality anyway? As long as it works, right?

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Peggie

4 months ago

Outcome specs are the way to go, unless you want a branded good. Then D is the answer.

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Scot

4 months ago

I agree, C is the way to go. Outcome specs give you flexibility in the design.

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Lavonda

4 months ago

Using branded goods sounds like a specific case, but I wonder if that really fits with outcome specifications, so I'm hesitant about option D.

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Mira

4 months ago

I feel like I've seen a similar question before, and it was about the importance of quality, which makes me question option A.

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Melinda

4 months ago

I'm not entirely sure, but I remember something about internal expertise being a factor, which could relate to option B.

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Oliva

5 months ago

I think outcome specifications are important when there are multiple ways to achieve the same result, so I might lean towards option C.

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Erasmo

5 months ago

I'm confident the answer is C. Outcome specifications give the supplier flexibility to design the goods in the most efficient way, as long as the performance requirements are met.

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Desmond

5 months ago

C seems like the best option to me. Outcome specs allow the supplier more freedom to innovate and find creative solutions, which is ideal when there are multiple ways to achieve the same result.

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Gilma

5 months ago

Hmm, this is a tricky one. I'm leaning towards B, since if the organization has internal design expertise, they may want to use outcome specs to give them more control over the process.

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Ettie

5 months ago

C is the correct answer. There are many ways to design the goods to reach the same performance result.

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Lachelle

5 months ago

I think C is the best choice. Many designs can achieve the same result.

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Ellsworth

6 months ago

Wait, are we really okay with no concern for quality?

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Mitsue

6 months ago

I'm not totally sure about this one. I'd need to think more about the differences between outcome and design specifications. Maybe I should review my notes on that topic.

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Delila

6 months ago

I think the answer is C. If there are many ways to design the goods to reach the same performance result, then outcome specifications would be appropriate to allow for flexibility.

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