Question

SECTION A: COMPUSORY QUESTION

Question One –Hypothetical Case Study

The Public Health Directorate in November 2015 anticipated the outbreak of Yellow Fever in the first quarter of the ensuing year 2016. The Directorate subsequently asked the procurement officer to place an order for the supply of Yellow Fever vaccines.

In December, 2015, the Procurement officer placed an order for the supply of the vaccines but the order was silent on the strengths of the vaccine and delivery date. In January 2016, the Head of Entity requested the Procurement Officer to brief him on the preparedness towards the anticipated outbreak. The procurement officer confirmed placing an order in December 2015 for the supply of the vaccines. Delivery was expected in the first quarter of 2016 before the anticipated outbreak. In February 2016, the Procurement Officer got anxious that the vaccines had not been delivered as expected. Sporadic cases of Yellow Fever were reported in endemic districts in the Asempa region of Ghana.

The Head of Entity convened a meeting to discuss the outbreak. Public Health practitioners in the Region confirmed their preparedness through treatment protocols to support fieldwork in the event of an epidemic. It became obvious that the delivery could not be made before the outbreak. The Head of Entity accordingly requested the Procurement Officer to brief the meeting on arrangements made for the delivery of the vaccines.

In response, the Procurement Officer presented volumes of files in support of orders placed. It took the meeting three sittings to retrieve a copy of the particular contract.

When the supplier was contacted to explain the delivery, he intimated that he had an unlimited time for delivery as the contract was not explicit on the delivery date. He however informed the entity that he had pediatric doses of the vaccine which he could immediately supply

Eventually there was an outbreak which claimed several lives. The Procurement Officer insisted that he was not blamable because he had placed the order as far back as December, 2015.

Tasks:

Discuss the issues in the case study as related to contracting and contract management

Is the Procurement Officer justified in not accepting blame? Explain your answer?

Can the use of emerging technologies used in supply chain management help to avert such situations?

                                    SECTION B

INSTRUCTION: ANSWER ANY TWO QUESTIONS

Question One

Procurement performance evaluation is regarded as a key catalyst to the success of any procurement process. The previous Procurement Officer had a lot of conflict with the Entity Tender Committee (ETC) during planning and discussions for performance evaluation of major contracts. You have just been appointed as the new Procurement Manager and now preparing for ‘the crucial works on the procurement performance review strategy’. As the Team Leader, management has asked you to organize a meeting and discuss what you will consider as relevant indicators to be considered in such a plan.

Question Two

The emerging trends in Procurement and Supply chain continued to create both positive and negative effects on global supply systems. Identify any five (5) emerging trends currently impacting on global procurement and supply chain system (15marks)

Question Three

Briefly explain the difference between Competitive and collaborative relationship procurement (5marks)

Discuss how the kraljic matrix can be employed in managing supplier relationships in a company of your choice.

Question Four

You work with the procurement department of Ghana Water Company Ltd. You have been appointed to lead a team to discuss a deal with a large supplier of heavy duty pipes. This is in connection with the extension of pipe borne water to a new plant built at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region. Discuss FIVE factors which could affect the relationship strategy when considering a contract in the public sector with this large supplier. (15marks)

Question Five

The Bullwhip Effect has been one common issue in businesses. It starts from the downstream (end customers) side of the supply chain and swings in larger and larger “wave” hits to the upstream manufacturer/supplier. Discuss Five ways of dealing with such a phenomenon. (15marks)

Question Seven

The concept of Total Quality Management is an integral part of the success story of most businesses. Discuss Five factors which affirms the relevance of this concept in a firm seeking to be the most competitive in the market. (15marks)

Answer 1