Singapore Management University (SMU) Singapore Management University (SMU) Singapore Management University (SMU) Celebrating Meaning Impact: 25 Years and Beyond
SMU Academy

Main navigation

  • Home
  • About Us
    Overview Why Choose Us
  • Courses & Programmes
    Course Finder Short Courses Full Certificates Industry Practice Master of Digital Economy Industry Graduate Diplomas (IGD)s Internationalisation Series SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP) SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme
  • Learning & Development for Companies
  • Resources
    Events Insights News Videos & Webinars
  • FAQs
    FAQs Course Information SkillsFuture Credit
  • Contact Us
    Enquire Now Getting to SMU
  • OpenCerts Verifier

Advanced Certificate in Procurement Essentials Module 2: Mastering Specification Writing with Design Thinking

  • Innovation & Business Improvement
Next Intake: 25 Jun 2025 (Wed)
  • Basic
  • SkillsFuture
  • Short Courses
  • This module is part of Advanced Certificate in Procurement Essentials

This module is conducted in-person.

Next course starts on
25 Jun 2025 (Wed) See Full Schedule
Fee
SGD3,270* (as low as SGD381 after maximum funding) Learn More
Duration

3 Full Days (Weekdays)

Level
Basic

Who Should Attend

Procurement officers and end users tasked to create specifications for publication and who wish to improve their specification writing skills.


PREREQUISITES

Participants should preferably be

  • conversant in English, both spoken and written; and
  • proficient in MS Office

Overview

Procurement specifications define precise requirements of commodities (i.e., goods and services) sought through a solicitation process. Good specifications should be written with the intent to maximise competition, with the use of language that is relevant to and understood by potential offerors.

From establishing the need to buy to translating a particular need into detailed requirements, the thinking process is key. With the perfect marriage of design thinking with specification writing, efficiency and effectiveness could be enhanced for maximum benefit for your organisation. In this module, participants will explore the use of design thinking in a specification writing context. They will learn from the many cases shared how to achieve precision and clarity in communicating the needs of procurement.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the process and types of specification writing
  • Know the science and the art of specification writing to help achieve the expected and desired outcomes 
  • Apply design thinking to optimise the effectiveness of specification writing
  • Ensure proper checks to help identify inconsistencies and ambiguities of written specifications

Assessment

As part of the requirement for SkillsFuture Singapore, there will be an assessment conducted at the end of the course. The mode of assessment, which is up to the trainer’s discretion, may be an online quiz, a presentation or based on classroom exercises.

Participants are required to attain a minimum of 75% attendance and pass the associated assessment in order to receive a digital Certificate of Completion issued by Singapore Management University.

Calculate Programme Fee

Click here for more infomation about SkillsFuture Credits (Not applicable for Company-sponsored participants)
For PSEA - Available only for Singapore Citizen below 31 (Not applicable for Company-sponsored participants)

Total Program Fee: SGD0.00

Fee Table

COMPANY-SPONSORED

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

SELF-SPONSORED

SME

NON-SME

Singapore Citizen < 40 years old

Permanent Resident

LTVP+

$981

(After SSG Funding 70%)

$381

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ ETSS Funding 20%)

$981

(After SSG Funding 70%)

Singapore Citizen ≥ 40 years old

$381

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ MCES Funding 20%)

$381

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ ETSS Funding 20%)

$381

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ MCES Funding 20%)

International Participant

$3,270

(No Funding)

$3,270

(No Funding)

$3,270

(No Funding)

All prices include 9% GST

Please note that the programme fees are subject to change without prior notice.

Post Secondary Education Account (PSEA)
PSEA can be utilised for subsidised programmes eligible for SkillsFuture Credit support. Click here to find out more.

Self Sponsored

SkillsFuture Credit

Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above may use their SkillsFuture Credits to pay for the course fees. The credits may be used on top of existing course fee funding.

This is only applicable to self-sponsored participants. Application to utilise SkillsFuture Credits can be submitted when making payment for the course via the SMU Academy TMS Portal, and can only be made within 60 days of course start date.

Please click here for more information on the SkillsFuture Credit. For help in submitting an SFC claim, you may wish to refer to our step-by-step guide on claiming SkillsFuture Credits (Individual).

Workfare Skills Support Scheme

From 1 July 2023, the Workfare Skills Support (WSS) scheme has been enhanced. Please click here for more details.

Company Sponsored

Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS)

  • Organisation must be registered or incorporated in Singapore
  • Employment size of not more than 200 or with annual sales turnover of not more than $100 million
  • Trainees must be hired in accordance with the Employment Act and fully sponsored by their employers for the course
  • Trainees must be Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents
  • Trainees must not be a full-time national serviceman
  • Trainees are eligible for ETSS funding only if their company's SME status is approved prior to the course commencement date. To verify your SME's status, please click here. 

Please click here for more information on ETSS.

Absentee Payroll

Companies who sponsor their employees for the course may apply for Absentee Payroll here. For more information, please refer to:

AP Guide (Non-SME Companies)
Declaration Guide (SME Companies)

Loading...

Loading schedule information...

Trainers

Rick Chong
Managing Director
Excellence Procurement Consultancy Pte Ltd
Rick Chong
Managing Director
Excellence Procurement Consultancy Pte Ltd

Rick, a seasoned Procurement and Supply Chain professional since 2001, excels in leading operations, cost-saving initiatives, reorganisation projects, negotiations, system integrations, training, and consultancy. With extensive international experience across Germany, Portugal, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, and Thailand, he brings a diverse cultural perspective to his work. Since 2012, Rick has trained procurement professionals across various sectors, specialising in negotiation, contract management, essential procurement skills, and specification writing. He serves as an adjunct trainer at numerous higher learning institutions in Singapore and holds recognition as an Associate Adult Educator with the Institute of Adult Learning (IAL), Singapore.

You might also be interested in

Legal issues in AI and Machine Learning
Legal issues in AI and Machine Learning
13 May 2025
Digital Finance Module 1: Data and Accounting Analytics
Digital Finance Module 1: Data and Accounting Analytics
13 May 2025
Advanced Certificate in Generative Artificial Intelligence Apps Design and Prompt Engineering Module 5: Gen AI Apps Design and Prompt Engineering in Sales and Customer Service
Advanced Certificate in Generative Artificial Intelligence Apps Design and Prompt Engineering Module 5: Gen AI Apps Design and Prompt Engineering in Sales and Customer Service
13 May 2025
Advanced Certificate in Digital Supply Chain Module 1: The Digital Supply Chain
Advanced Certificate in Digital Supply Chain Module 1: The Digital Supply Chain
14 May 2025
  • Overview
  • Assessment
  • Calculate Programme Fee
  • Fee Table
  • Intake Information
  • Trainers
Enquire
Apply Now
Hey, chat with me!

SMU Academy Chatbot

  Maximize
  Minimize

Directions & Carpark

  • Maps & Directions
  • Carpark Information

Courses

  • Course Finder
  • Short Courses
  • Full Certificates
  • Industry Practice Master of Digital Economy (IPMDE)
  • Internationalisation Series
  • SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP)

Explore

  • Why Choose Us
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Course Calendar
  • Course Policies
  • Code of Conduct

Get in Touch

  • Contact Us

Follow Us On

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Terms of Use
  • Website Feedback
  • Report Whistleblowing
  • Personal Data Protection
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • SoundCloud
© 2025 Singapore Management University. All Rights Reserved.