CIPS Level 6 - Future Strategic Challenges [L6M4]

On completion of this module, you will be able to evaluate the changing needs and future requirements of the procurement and supply function and analyse the strategic challenges the profession is likely to face. As global environments become increasingly volatile, complex, and unpredictable, organisations require procurement and supply leaders who can navigate uncertainty, anticipate emerging risks, and adapt strategies to remain competitive. This module encourages you to look ahead, challenge traditional thinking, and explore how the profession must evolve to meet the demands of tomorrow’s markets, technologies, and organisational expectations.

Throughout the module, you will assess the drivers shaping the future of procurement and supply, including evolving organisational objectives, shifting industry landscapes, and the rising importance of resilient and adaptive supply networks. You will examine how leadership requirements are changing and how procurement professionals must develop new skills, knowledge, and behaviours to meet strategic demands. This includes a stronger focus on external outcomes, cross-functional influence, relationship management, and ESG-aware decision-making. You will also explore how innovation, automation, and emerging technologies are transforming the profession, influencing everything from sourcing methods to operating models. The module invites you to consider future risks, competitive pressures, and the role of procurement in enabling organisational success through strategic foresight, collaboration, and value creation.

Did you know: Studies on future supply chain leadership suggest that more than 50% of the skills considered essential for senior procurement roles today will be replaced or significantly reshaped within the next decade, largely due to digital transformation and global market volatility.