Which of the following did the supply manager and marketing director fail to consider?

A supply manager is tasked with assisting internal customers in refining their budgets and planning future sourcing. The supply manager works with the firm’s marketing director on a budget which includes a large direct mail campaign and the revision of promotional materials for several products. Six months later, marketing has nearly exhausted the budget due to cost increases in paper and printing, even though the marketing campaign’s scope has not changed.

Which of the following did the supply manager and marketing director fail to consider?
A . Ongoing project monitoring
B . Comparison of actual results with established goals
C . Alignment of departmental priorities with those of the parent organization
D . Use of pricing data to forecast trends

View Answer

Answer: D

Explanation:

The supply manager and marketing director failed to consider pricing data to forecast trends. By not anticipating cost increases in paper and printing, they couldn’t adjust the budget accordingly, leading to overspending. Forecasting trends helps in planning for potential price fluctuations and budget adjustments.

Reference: Effective budgeting in supply chain management requires trend analysis and forecasting to anticipate market changes.