Strategic Sourcing and Category Management

Programme Summary

Strategic sourcing creates value by aligning market opportunities, stakeholder needs and commercial risk. This programme develops a structured approach to spend analysis, supply market assessment and category strategy. Participants examine a procurement category, compare sourcing options and prepare an implementation plan that balances cost, continuity, quality and sustainability while making assumptions and decision responsibilities explicit.

Training Objectives

1 Connect category strategy with business requirements; 2 Strengthen spend and supply market analysis; 3 Improve sourcing option and risk evaluation; 4 Support stakeholder alignment and supplier competition; 5 Build credible category implementation and review plans.

Learning Outcomes

1 Analyse spend patterns and category opportunities; 2 Map supply markets and dependency risks; 3 Compare sourcing options using transparent criteria; 4 Prepare a justified category strategy recommendation; 5 Define implementation actions and value measures.

Target Audience

Category Managers; Procurement Managers; Strategic Sourcing Specialists; Senior Buyers; Supply Chain Managers.

Target Industries

Manufacturing; Construction; Healthcare Procurement; Retail; Utilities; Professional Services.

Course Contents

• Module 1 Category Strategy Context: Business objectives and procurement value; Category boundaries and ownership responsibilities; Stakeholder needs and decision governance.
• Module 2 Spend Analysis: Spend classification and data cleansing; Supplier concentration and demand patterns; Baseline costs and savings assumptions.
• Module 3 Demand and Specification Review: Business requirements and performance needs; Demand challenge and standardisation opportunities; Technical stakeholder engagement and constraints.
• Module 4 Supply Market Analysis: Market structure capacity and competition; Cost drivers and supplier economics; Market intelligence and evidence reliability.
• Module 5 Category Risk Assessment: Supply dependencies and continuity exposure; Quality ethical and sustainability risks; Prioritising risks and response ownership.
• Module 6 Sourcing Strategy Options: Single multiple and regional sourcing; Partnership competition and aggregation choices; Make buy and service delivery options.
• Module 7 Commercial Models: Pricing structures and total ownership cost; Incentives performance and risk allocation; Comparing value beyond purchase price.
• Module 8 Supplier Selection Strategy: Prequalification and competition design; Evaluation criteria and evidence requirements; Fairness confidentiality and conflict controls.
• Module 9 Stakeholder Alignment: Decision criteria and approval routes; Managing competing functional priorities; Communicating tradeoffs and implementation impacts.
• Module 10 Implementation Planning: Sourcing waves resources and milestones; Supplier transition and continuity controls; Contract handover and operational readiness.
• Module 11 Value and Performance Tracking: Savings benefits and baseline integrity; Risk quality and sustainability measures; Review cycles and strategy adjustments.
• Module 12 Category Strategy Workshop: Interpreting a supplied category case; Defending sourcing options and assumptions; Presenting an actionable category roadmap.

Assessment

• 60 single best answer questions, including applied scenarios; one mark per question.
• 90 minute invigilated digital examination with identity verification. Approved accessibility adjustments preserve the assessed competence.
• Supplied reference pack permitted; external internet and AI assistance prohibited.
• Individual applied assessment (45 minutes): Prepare a category strategy using supplied spend and market data, justify a sourcing option and define implementation risks, milestones and value measures.
• Assessment criteria: Quality of spend and market analysis; Strength of option comparison and justification; Practicality of implementation and measurement plans.
• Pass each component separately: 45/60 written marks (75%) and at least 70% on the applied task.
• Individual results and feedback are provided. One reassessment may follow coaching under the published enrolment terms.

Certification

• Successful learners receive a TQCSI Arabia digital Certificate of Successful Completion.
• The certificate records the learner name, exact programme title, teaching hours, completion date and unique verification reference.
• Verified identity, full attendance and separate written and applied passes are required; all mandatory critical criteria must be met.
• Proposed issue target: within 30 calendar days of approved results and settlement of applicable fees.
• Records assessed sourcing and category strategy skills; commercial decisions and procurement approvals remain with the employing organisation.
• Attendance confirmation may record completed hours for unsuccessful learners; it does not certify successful completion.

Programme Profile

Number of daysNumber of daysNumber of days

333

Total teaching hoursTotal teaching hoursTotal teaching hours

18 hours; breaks, pre course work and formal final assessments excluded.18 hours; breaks, pre course work and formal final assessments excluded.18 hours; breaks, pre course work and formal final assessments excluded.

Delegates allowedDelegates allowedDelegates allowed

Maximum 20 delegates.Maximum 20 delegates.Maximum 20 delegates.

Training prerequisitesTraining prerequisitesTraining prerequisites

Procurement or supply chain experience is required. Basic spreadsheet skills and familiarity with supplier contracts are recommended.Procurement or supply chain experience is required. Basic spreadsheet skills and familiarity with supplier contracts are recommended.Procurement or supply chain experience is required. Basic spreadsheet skills and familiarity with supplier contracts are recommended.

Pre course assignment and assessmentPre course assignment and assessmentPre course assignment and assessment

Review a fictional spend dataset and stakeholder brief in a 30 minute preparatory exercise.Review a fictional spend dataset and stakeholder brief in a 30 minute preparatory exercise.Review a fictional spend dataset and stakeholder brief in a 30 minute preparatory exercise.

End of course assessmentEnd of course assessmentEnd of course assessment

60 question written exam (90 minutes) and individual applied task (45 minutes).60 question written exam (90 minutes) and individual applied task (45 minutes).60 question written exam (90 minutes) and individual applied task (45 minutes).

Passing criteriaPassing criteriaPassing criteria

75% written and 70% applied, passed separately; full attendance.75% written and 70% applied, passed separately; full attendance.75% written and 70% applied, passed separately; full attendance.