Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) Practice Test

What action can be taken to improve inefficiencies caused by purchasing various mobile phone types?

1. Creation of performance specifications

2. Sole sourcing

3. Benchmarking

4. Standardization

The correct answer is: Standardization

Standardization is the most effective action to improve inefficiencies caused by purchasing various mobile phone types. By implementing standardization, an organization can choose a limited number of mobile phone types that meet the necessary requirements for functionality and compatibility. This simplifies inventory management, reduces training costs for users, and streamlines maintenance and support services. When there is a variety of mobile phone types in use, it can lead to increased complexity in managing contracts, varying levels of support, and differing performance metrics. Standardization mitigates these issues by establishing a uniform set of devices that can be easily managed and supported. This can also lead to better negotiation power with suppliers, as purchasing in bulk often allows for better pricing and terms. In contrast, the creation of performance specifications focuses on defining requirements rather than reducing variety. Sole sourcing limits the pool of suppliers but does not address the fundamental issue of inefficiency caused by diversifying phone types. Benchmarking helps track performance against best practices but does not directly solve the inefficiency related to multiple device types. Therefore, among the given actions, standardization is the most strategic choice to enhance operational efficiency in purchasing mobile phones.