PARIS GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

EXECUTIVE MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Examination
Time Allowed: 3 Hours

August 2006

Quadrem: E-Procurement for the Mining Industry

In answering these Case Study questions, you are advised to provide the reasons for
the position that you are taking. Please note that the examiners are concerned with
your ability to analyse the case and to demonstrate your comprehension of business
issues and their impact on business decision making.
The following are the criteria which the examiners will apply to assess your answers
to the questions.
1. Have the answers provided by the student been covered in sufficient depth?
2. Are the arguments provided logically developed?
3. Are the conclusions supported by the arguments provided including references
to issues and situations as presented by the case study?
4. Do the answers cite and make references to the case?
ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS
1. How has the mining industry changed since during the development of Eprocurement?
What have been the biggest factors in these changes?
2. Explain how Quadrem is positioned within the Mining Industry? Are there any
threats that the company could face from external forces?
3. Describe what Quadrem does for you if you are a buyer from the Mining
Industry. Is Quadrem necessary for your business as a buyer? What other
alternatives exist?
4. Describe what Quadrem does for you if you are a seller within the Mining
Industry. Is Quadrem necessary for your business as a seller? What other
alternatives exist?
5. Consider the available options that Quadrem has in developing a strategy to
meet its goal of breaking even by the specified time? What challenges will
each of these options create? What actions can Quadrem take to overcome

these challenges?