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CIPS L5M6 Exam - Topic 1 Question 6 Discussion

Actual exam question for CIPS's L5M6 exam
Question #: 6
Topic #: 1
[All L5M6 Questions]

Total Cost of Ownership [TCO] is important in Category Management. Steve is sourcing machine parts and IT systems. Which of the following should Steve consider as part of TCO? [Select THREE]

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Suggested Answer: A, D, E

Total Cost of Ownership [TCO] refers to the full cost of acquiring, operating, and maintaining an item over its entire lifecycle---not just the purchase price. For Steve, the relevant elements are:

Purchase Price [A]: The initial acquisition cost.

Maintenance and Downtime [D]: Costs of repairs, spare parts, and losses during equipment downtime.

Training [E]: Expenses incurred in training staff to use new systems or equipment.

By contrast, Location and Supplier Relationship are important considerations but cannot be quantified as direct financial costs in the same way.

The TCO model is often illustrated as the Cost Iceberg, where the purchase price is only the visible tip, while hidden costs [e.g., energy use, repairs, obsolescence, disposal] represent the bulk. Understanding TCO enables procurement to make more informed decisions, ensuring long-term value rather than focusing narrowly on upfront cost.

[Ref: CIPS L5M6 Study Guide, p.9 -- TCO and the Cost Iceberg]


Contribute your Thoughts:

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Eun
15 hours ago
Supplier Relationship is key for long-term success. Can't ignore that.
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Charlena
6 days ago
I think Purchase Price is a must. It's the initial cost.
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Ulysses
11 days ago
Surprised that B) Location isn't more important!
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Lenna
16 days ago
C) Supplier Relationship matters, but is it top three?
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Rosio
21 days ago
A, D, and E for sure. The purchase price, maintenance, and training are the real TCO killers. The other factors are nice to have, but won't make or break the budget.
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Jenelle
26 days ago
Haha, this is a no-brainer! A, D, and E are the clear winners. Who cares about the supplier relationship or location when you're trying to minimize the overall cost? Steve's gotta focus on the big-ticket items.
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Annice
1 month ago
A, D, and E are the obvious choices here. Can't forget about the ongoing costs like maintenance and training - those can really add up and make a big difference in the total cost.
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Shonda
1 month ago
Gotta go with A, D, and E. The purchase price, maintenance/downtime, and training costs are the big ones that will impact the total cost over time. The other factors are important, but not as critical for TCO.
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Willow
1 month ago
A, D, and E are definitely the key factors to consider for TCO. Location and supplier relationship are important, but not as directly related to the overall cost of ownership.
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Dorothea
2 months ago
I practiced a similar question where Training was included, so I feel like it could be relevant here as well.
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Art
2 months ago
Supplier Relationship might be important too, but I can't recall if it directly impacts TCO like the other options.
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Darnell
2 months ago
I remember discussing Maintenance and Downtime in class; it seems crucial for TCO, especially for machine parts.
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German
2 months ago
I think D) Maintenance and Downtime is crucial too.
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Justa
2 months ago
Definitely A) Purchase Price, that's a no-brainer.
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Fredric
3 months ago
E) Training? Really? Seems like a stretch for TCO.
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Margery
3 months ago
Definitely, but Maintenance and Downtime matter too. They add up.
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Ines
3 months ago
I think the Purchase Price is definitely one of the factors to consider, but I'm not sure about the others.
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Wilson
3 months ago
I feel pretty confident on this one. The key things to consider for TCO are the initial cost, the ongoing costs of maintenance and downtime, and the costs associated with training users. B and C seem less directly related to the total cost.
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Aja
4 months ago
Okay, let me think this through. TCO is about the total cost, not just the upfront cost. So I need to consider things like ongoing support and operations, not just the initial purchase. I'll go with A, D, and E.
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Rosamond
4 months ago
Definitely include the purchase price, maintenance/downtime, and training. Those are the obvious ones. Not sure about the other two, but I'll make my best guess.
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Leana
4 months ago
I'm a bit confused on the difference between location and supplier relationship. Are those both considered part of TCO or just one of them?
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Arlie
4 months ago
I think the key here is to consider the full lifecycle costs, not just the initial purchase price. Maintenance, downtime, and training are definitely important factors to include in the TCO.
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Paola
2 months ago
I agree, maintenance costs can add up quickly.
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