CIPS L4M2 Exam With Confidence Using Practice Dumps

Explanation

The difference between the standard cost of direct materials specified for production and the actual cost of direct materials used in production is known as Direct Material Cost Variance. Material Cost Variance gives an idea of how much more or less cost has been incurred when compared with the standard cost. Thus, Variance Analysis is an important tool to keep a tab on the deviations from the standard set by a company.

Material Cost Variance can be due to less purchase price being paid than the standard or because of change in the quantity of material used. Thus, Material Cost Variance is made up of two components namely; Material Price Variance and Material Usage Variance.

Among the 4 options:

- 'The buyer updates purchase-to-pay system to track payment and delivery': The use of e-procurement system can increase the productivity and create labour cost variance, not material cost variance.

- 'An unprocessed goods received note is missing': If a goods received note is missing, the buyer won't pay for that batch, which create quantity variance.

- 'The employees must work overtime to catch up with the customers' orders': Overtime salary can cause labour variance, not material cost variance.

- 'The purchase is made in emergency': Normally, the price in emergency situation is higher than usual. This can cause price variance.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation (paraphrased from CIPS L4M2 content)

In CIPS L4M2, a business case is defined as the document or analysis that:

Sets out the need or problem,

Identifies and compares options (including “do nothing”),

Assesses the costs, benefits, risks and impacts of each option,

Provides a clear recommendation supported by evidence.

Its primary purpose is to provide decision-makers with a justification for investment or change, based on a structured evaluation.

Thus:

Option A – correctly describes the main purpose: assessing costs and benefits of options.

Options B, C and D – these are decisions or outputs that might be informed by a business case, but they are not what a business case “allows” by definition.

Approving sourcing strategies or supplier lists is normally part of procurement governance, influenced by the business case but not the same as it.

Approving final spend is a financial approval decision that follows from the business case evaluation.

Relevant CIPS L4M2 areas:

Structure and purpose of a business case

Option appraisal, costs, benefits and risk analysis

The role of the business case in justifying external sourcing