ITIL 4 Foundation Practice Exam

What does Supplier Management ensure?

1. That user needs are always met

2. That the organization’s suppliers and their performance are managed appropriately

3. That all IT changes are recorded and managed

4. That asset lifecycles are planned effectively

The correct answer is: That the organization’s suppliers and their performance are managed appropriately

Supplier Management is a vital practice within the ITIL framework that focuses on overseeing and optimizing relationships with suppliers to ensure the delivery of goods and services aligns with organizational needs. The primary goal of Supplier Management is to ensure that the organization's suppliers are effectively managed, which includes monitoring their performance, ensuring they adhere to contractual obligations, and fostering collaboration to achieve value for both parties. By managing suppliers appropriately, organizations can mitigate risks, enhance service quality, and achieve consistent value from third-party service providers. This practice ensures that suppliers meet their performance criteria, which is crucial for maintaining smooth operations and fulfilling business requirements. The other options, while important in their own right, do not capture the essence of what Supplier Management specifically entails. For instance, focusing on user needs or all IT changes involves different aspects of service management and does not distinctly relate to supplier oversight. Similarly, planning asset lifecycles pertains to asset management rather than the management of supplier relationships. Therefore, the focus of Supplier Management on supplier performance and management justifies why the answer is indeed centered on ensuring the suppliers and their performance are managed appropriately.