Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CSCMP Practice Questions and Study Guide

The term "Purchasing" is commonly used interchangeably with Supply Management because it encompasses the activities involved in acquiring goods and services needed for an organization to operate effectively. Supply Management involves overseeing the entire supply chain process, which includes sourcing, procuring, and managing supplier relationships. Purchasing, as a component of Supply Management, focuses specifically on the transactional aspects of acquiring these goods and services, including negotiating prices, placing orders, and managing inventory levels.

While the other terms relate to different business functions—Sales Management pertains to selling products to customers, Operations Management focuses on overseeing the day-to-day operations of a company, and Marketing Management deals with promoting and selling products—Purchasing is distinctively aligned with the procurement processes that are central to Supply Management. This is why "Purchasing" is the accurate term associated with Supply Management in this context.