CPSM Blog

Participate/Lead cross functional teams like project,new product,international teams

This section calls on the supply manager to get involved ion cross-functional teams. Traditional supply/procurement folks tended to specialize ( I am "only indirect", handle" metals "are typical things you hear). While specialization is good the CPSM tries to encourage the supply manager to take on a more cross disciplinary role. For example, you may be already participating in a lean or six sigma initiative with colleagues in other departments like production planning and sales. Think about the team issues that come up like consensus building,time constraints and conflicts with your main role. Also the question of reporting to the team leader and your boss. Naturally, this sections wants you to take the lead in cross functional teams with a subject that you can influence positively. A good example are new product teams that can benefit from early supplier involvement. Who knows supplier capabilities in the organization ? You - the supply manager does  and leading such a team is likely to show great results.

How much time should I spend studying Task 3-A-8 ?

"Careful in spending" is the hallmark of the professional supply manager! Yet I find that CPSM candidates seem to get mixed up in "spending"  time for their study efforts.

I believe you should spend time in proportion to the number of questions that will come up from a particular section.So if you look at 3-A-8 which is about "cross-functional teams" for process improvement,international etc. you should give a lot of time to this section.

Why? because as the Study Guide 3 tells you (see page xii) this section has 8 questions compared to only 3 questions in  say Topic 3-B-2. In other words, you should be spending double (if not triple)  the time with 3-A-8 than with 3-B-2.

While taking the exam though you should have an "equal time" principle to every question - you should not be spending extra time on any question. Pace yourself during the test.