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Category Management

Category Management

Course Fee

Standalone short course
$475 incl. GST per participant
CIPS pathway
$695 incl. GST (includes one year CIPS student membership)

Delivery and Duration

In person or virtual
1 day or 4 x 2-hour sessions

L5M6 Category Management

Choose your learning pathway

Two pathways, depending on your goals

1

Option 1

Short course

Build practical skills you can apply immediately in the workplace.

Complete the course and receive an AcademyGlobal Certificate of Course Completion recognising your professional development.

2

Option 2

Short course + CIPS exam

Build your skills and progress towards the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply.

Complete the course and register for the official CIPS L5M6 exam. Pass the exam to earn 6 credits towards the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply.

Eligibility: you need the CIPS Level 4 Diploma first.

Have you analysed your spend but are not sure how to turn it into a category strategy?

In this practical 1-day course (or 4 x 2-hour sessions), you will evaluate approaches that can be adopted to develop category management of both direct and indirect expenditure, and plan for the associated strategic processes.

Category management involves applying the end-to-end procurement process to a specific range of goods or services. This includes pre-award processes such as category analysis and demand management, sourcing and contract negotiation, and post-award processes such as performance management. You will evaluate approaches to developing category management and learn how to create process plans that support category management success.

Delivered by AcademyGlobal faculty who are experienced procurement practitioners and hold MCIPS or FCIPS qualifications, the course combines practical activities, group discussion and locally relevant examples drawn from the Australian and New Zealand procurement environment.

AcademyGlobal is Australia and New Zealand’s first and only CIPS Centre of Excellence, recognising the quality of our CIPS teaching, learner support and study centre delivery.

CIPS Centre of Excellence

Key Content

Strategic and conventional sourcing and their role in category management

Models of strategic sourcing and category management, including the CIPS Category Management Model

Technical and behavioural skills required for category management

Direct and indirect expenditure and Pareto analysis

Tools to map categories of spend, including matrices, supply chain mapping and Porter's 5 forces

Data required to develop a category management process

Category hierarchies, portfolio tools and total cost models

Stakeholder needs analysis and cross functional teams

Supply market factors, including industry dynamics and supplier financial data

Course Format

Duration

1 day or 4 x 2-hour sessions

Delivery

In person or virtual, with practical activities and group discussion.

CIPS module

After Your Course

Option 1: Short course. On completion, you will receive an AcademyGlobal Certificate of Course Completion.

Option 2: Short course and CIPS exam. After the course, you can sit the CIPS L5M6 exam in one of the CIPS exam periods (see the CIPS exam schedule). A pass gives you 6 credits towards the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply. To sit the exam, you must first have achieved the CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply, which is the CIPS entry requirement for Level 5. This applies only if you choose to sit the exam. You do not need it to attend this course. The exam fee is set by CIPS and paid separately (see CIPS exam fees), and AcademyGlobal will take care of your exam registration and support you with administration. You must hold current CIPS membership to sit the exam. If you are not already a CIPS member, the CIPS exam pathway fee includes one year of CIPS student membership.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

Critically compare strategic and conventional sourcing processes and their role in category management

Critically compare models for the adoption of category management

Identify the technical and behavioural skills required to implement category management

Compare and contrast the tools and techniques that can be applied to map categories of direct and indirect expenditure

Analyse the data required for the development of a category management process

Examine the requirements for initiating and preparing the introduction of a category management process

Analyse supply market factors that impact on the development of a category management process

Option 1: Short course. This option is for participants who wish to complete the training without undertaking a CIPS exam or other formal assessment. On completion of the course, you will receive an AcademyGlobal Certificate of Course Completion, confirming your participation in and completion of the training. This option does not include assessment, a CIPS examination or credits towards a CIPS qualification.

Option 2: Short course and CIPS exam. After completing the course, you can sit the CIPS L5M6 Objective Response (OR) exam during one of CIPS’ scheduled exam periods throughout the year (see the CIPS exam schedule). A pass gives you 6 credits towards the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply. To sit the exam, you must first have achieved the CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply, which is the CIPS entry requirement for Level 5. This applies only if you choose to sit the exam. You do not need it to attend this course.

The exam is a computer-based Objective Response examination. Rather than writing extended or essay-style answers, you are presented with questions and select the correct response from a range of possible answers. The pass mark for Objective Response examinations is 70%.

Objective Response exams are held during designated CIPS examination periods. CIPS currently schedules exam periods five times each year, in March, May, July, September and November.

All CIPS examinations are computer based, and you can sit the exam through remote invigilation. This means you can undertake the examination from a suitable location such as your home or office, provided you meet CIPS’ technical and examination-environment requirements.

For a remotely invigilated exam, you will need an appropriate desktop or laptop computer, stable internet connection, webcam and suitable private examination environment. The examination itself is completed through CIPS’ computer-based TestReach platform while an approved remote invigilator supervises the examination. CIPS provides candidates with instructions and technical requirements ahead of the exam.

The exam fee is set by CIPS and paid separately (see the CIPS exam fees), and AcademyGlobal will take care of your exam registration and support you with the associated administration.

You must hold current CIPS membership to sit the examination. If you are not already a CIPS member, the CIPS exam pathway fee includes one year of CIPS student membership.

Exam format (objective response): you select a response from a list of possible answers. The exam is 1.5 hours long.

Benefits for you

Understand the models and approaches used to develop category management

Apply tools and techniques to map categories of direct and indirect expenditure

Identify the technical and behavioural skills needed for category management

Build knowledge that can contribute towards the CIPS professional qualification pathway and progression towards MCIPS

Gain learning aligned to a globally recognised procurement qualification from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), a leading professional body for procurement and supply

Learn from experienced procurement practitioners and CIPS-qualified tutors, including MCIPS and FCIPS professionals

Benefits for your organisation

Plan the introduction of a category management process

Make better use of spend, contract and market data

Involve stakeholders through needs analysis and cross functional teams

Build your team’s procurement capability through learning aligned to CIPS professional standards, with content contextualised to local markets, organisations and regulatory environments

Support structured professional development and progression towards internationally recognised CIPS qualifications and MCIPS status

Upcoming Programs

Scheduled Courses

CIPS Centre of Excellence

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L5M6 Category Management

1 day or 4 x 2-hour sessions

From $475.00

In this practical 1-day course (or 4 x 2-hour sessions), you will evaluate approaches that can be adopted to develop category management of both direct and indirect expenditure, and plan for the associated strategic processes. Choose the short course on its own, or add the optional CIPS L5M6 exam to earn 6 credits towards the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply.

More Information

Teaching Faculty

Sohana Maharaj
Myla Bulaon
Sarah Collins
Jonathan Dutton
Paul A Gulston
Andres Naranjo
Stephen Rowe

What Our Learners Say

Category Management: Frequently Asked Questions

What does the course cover?

In this practical 1-day course (or 4 x 2-hour sessions), you will evaluate approaches that can be adopted to develop category management of both direct and indirect expenditure, and plan for the associated strategic processes.

Category management involves applying the end-to-end procurement process to a specific range of goods or services. This includes pre-award processes such as category analysis and demand management, sourcing and contract negotiation, and post-award processes such as performance management. You will evaluate approaches to developing category management and learn how to create process plans that support category management success.

Who is this course for?

If you have responsibility for category management and want to use the tools and techniques available to create category management processes for direct or indirect expenditure, this course is for you.

What are my options for completing the course?

You can choose between two learning pathways, depending on your professional development goals.

Option 1: Short course

Complete the course as standalone professional development. You will build practical skills you can apply in the workplace and receive an AcademyGlobal Certificate of Course Completion.

There is no requirement to become a CIPS member or sit an examination.

Option 2: Short course + CIPS exam

Complete the same course and then sit the official CIPS L5M6 Category Management examination. To sit the exam, you must first have achieved the CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply.

If you pass the examination, you will earn 6 credits towards the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply, allowing this course to form part of your pathway towards the full CIPS qualification.

Which option is right for me?

Choose the short course option if your primary goal is to build practical procurement capability and gain professional development recognition without completing an examination.

Choose the CIPS exam pathway if you would also like your learning to contribute towards the internationally recognised CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply.

You can also begin with this course and decide to continue with additional CIPS Level 5 modules as your professional development progresses.

Do I have to sit the CIPS exam?

The CIPS examination is optional.

You can complete the course as standalone professional development or choose to sit the CIPS L5M6 examination afterwards. To sit the exam, you must first have achieved the CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply. AcademyGlobal can arrange your exam registration and provide administrative support if you choose the CIPS pathway.

The CIPS examination fee is set by CIPS and is paid separately.

Will I receive a certificate?

Yes. When you complete the short course, you will receive an AcademyGlobal Certificate of Course Completion.

If you also choose to sit and pass the CIPS L5M6 examination, you will additionally earn 6 credits towards the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply.

Who delivers the course?

The course is delivered by AcademyGlobal faculty who are experienced procurement practitioners and hold MCIPS or FCIPS qualifications, with senior leadership and industry experience across the public and private sectors.

Your faculty combine CIPS-aligned learning with practical activities, group discussion and examples tailored to the Australian and New Zealand procurement environment.

Is AcademyGlobal an approved CIPS Study Centre?

Yes. AcademyGlobal is a CIPS Approved Study Centre and CIPS Study Centre of Excellence, delivering CIPS professional qualifications across Australia, New Zealand and the broader Asia-Pacific region. AcademyGlobal has delivered CIPS qualifications since its appointment as an Approved Study Centre in 2019.

How is the course delivered?

The course runs over 1 day, or 4 x 2-hour sessions, depending on the scheduled intake.

You can participate in person or virtually, depending on the available course dates.

How much does the course cost?

The standard short course fee is $475 incl. GST per participant.

If you choose the CIPS pathway and require CIPS student membership, the fee is $695 incl. GST, including one year of CIPS student membership.

If you already hold current CIPS membership, you pay the standard $475 incl. GST course fee.

The CIPS examination fee is not included and is paid separately.

How do I enrol?

Click Register Now at the top of this page, or choose a session under Upcoming Programs, to enrol through our booking system. When you register, tick the box on the registration form if you also wish to sit the CIPS exam, and our team will send you further details.

If you have questions, complete the enquiry form below or email info@academyglobal.com and our team can help you choose the pathway that best suits your professional development goals.

What practical questions will this course help me answer?

What do I do with spend data once it has been categorised?

You will learn how to produce category hierarchies, apply portfolio tools to map categories of expenditure, apply Pareto analysis to expenditures and key suppliers, and create total cost models for category management.

How do I build a category strategy when my data is limited?

You will analyse the data required to develop a category management process, including historical and forecast spend, demand patterns, current contracts and terms, reviews of existing relationships and performance, and market trends.

How do I get stakeholders on board with category management?

You will examine how to conduct stakeholder needs analysis, form cross functional teams with clear responsible, accountable, consultative and informing roles, and the behavioural skills such as communication and influencing that category management requires.

Contact Us

If you would like assistance with your course selection, please complete the form below
or call 1300 950 251