Standalone short course
$475 incl. GST per participant
CIPS pathway
$695 incl. GST (includes one year CIPS student membership)
In person or virtual
1 day or 4 x 2-hour sessions
Choose your learning pathway
Two pathways, depending on your goals
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.
Option 2
Short course + CIPS exam
Build your skills and progress towards the CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply.
Complete the course and register for the official CIPS L4M2 exam. Pass the exam to earn 6 credits towards the CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply.
Are stakeholders handing you vague requests and expecting you to find the right supplier?
In this practical 1-day course (or 4 x 2-hour sessions), you will learn how to define business need, from developing a business case for requirements to be sourced from external suppliers through to market management, competitive forces and the use of specifications in procurement and supply.
The development of a business case and the ability to analyse markets are key if your organisation is to work successfully with external suppliers. Similarly, the clear definition of specifications for through-life contracts is crucial to overall business achievement. You will explore the elements that underpin business cases and specifications, and the options to consider when you are involved in defining requirements.
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.
1 day or 4 x 2-hour sessions
In person or virtual, with practical activities and group discussion.
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 L4M2 exam in one of the CIPS exam periods (see the CIPS exam schedule). A pass gives you 6 credits towards the CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply. 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:
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 L4M2 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 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply.
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.
Upcoming Programs
Scheduled Courses
CIPS Centre of Excellence
1 day or 4 x 2 hour sessions
From $475.00
What Our Learners Say
I commenced my CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply with AcademyGlobal (AG) 1 year ago. It’s been such a positive and fruitful journey with AG for my CIPS study pathway. With genuine, timely and supportive advice from AG’s administration team and professional and structured tutorial coaching from AG’s faculty, I am expected to complete the last stage of my Level 4 course with proven satisfactory exam results and improved solid technical skills that resulted in a job promotion halfway through my course. I will definitely recommend AG to anyone who wants to advance their career in procurement and supply without any hesitation!
Defining Business Need: Frequently Asked Questions
What does the course cover?
In this practical 1-day course (or 4 x 2-hour sessions), you will learn how to define business need, from developing a business case for requirements to be sourced from external suppliers through to market management, competitive forces and the use of specifications in procurement and supply.
The development of a business case and the ability to analyse markets are key if your organisation is to work successfully with external suppliers. Similarly, the clear definition of specifications for through-life contracts is crucial to overall business achievement. You will explore the elements that underpin business cases and specifications, and the options to consider when you are involved in defining requirements.
Who is this course for?
If you are expected to analyse, interpret and evaluate information on the different types of markets used in procurement and supply, and you are involved in defining requirements, 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 L4M2 Defining Business Need examination.
If you pass the examination, you will earn 6 credits towards the CIPS Level 4 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 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply.
You can also begin with this course and decide to continue with additional CIPS Level 4 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 L4M2 examination afterwards. 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 L4M2 examination, you will additionally earn 6 credits towards the CIPS Level 4 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?
How do I build a business case that leadership will approve?
You will learn how business needs influence procurement and supply decisions, the criteria that can be applied in the development of a business case and how costs and prices can be estimated for procurement activities.
How do I deal with stakeholders who give incomplete or changing requirements?
You will examine the types of specifications used in procurement and supply, the sources of information used to create them and the sections used in developing them. You will also identify the risks that result from inadequate specifications, approaches to mitigate them and opportunities to review and enhance specifications in the short and longer term.
How can I check whether a supplier's price is reasonable?
You will contrast direct and indirect costs and consider the types of data that can provide information on cost and price, along with how costs and prices can be estimated for procurement activities.