Question 1
Explain “Order Fulfillment” and “Customer Relationship” in the integrated supply chain processes.
Order Fulfillment is a complete process from the point of sales or order to the final delivery. The sales management processes the orders, derived from customers, and depict some action plans to meet needs of the customers. When a customer, after ordering the product, gets it from the company, it is called the order fulfillment. The company intends to keep the cost of the order a fulfillment how to deliver the product at the affordable price. The customer relationship is a process of creating and maintaining the relations through effective customer services, meeting the needs and solving the issues are two key factors which make the customer relationship successful and predictable (Belt, 2009).
Question 2
How do IT and the analyses of industry structure determine competitive strategy?
The role of information technology in the competitive industry leads towards the competitive advantage. For Instance, through the better execution or adaptation of the information technology, the company can improve internal and external communication process. The rapidness in the process and decision making are two big strengths, which are triggered by the competitive advantage. The analysis of the industry structure helps the company to contain the intelligence structuring, and it helps to investigate the needs of customers. In the competitive market, understanding the industry structure is necessary to make well-organized marketing strategies, and of course, it helps to ensure the competitive advantage.
Question 3
Describe the characteristics and key performance indicator for strategic decision making.
The key performance indicators of the decision-making process are measured, propagating, innovating, and strategizing. The management of the company in the decision-making process intends to consider these performance measures due to different characteristics. The decisions can be measured due to the applicability and workability. Also, propagating the decision can help the company to get the message or decision in the limelight to enhance the visibility of understanding. All these decisions are to be included in the strategic planning process due to worth and value. Another performance indicator is the innovation, and it can be depicted in the implementation process (Belvedere & Grando, 2017).
Question 4
Your friend is having problems with her company’s supply chain. She has asked your advice on what the possible disruptions in a supply chain would be. What advice will you give her? Describe supply chain dynamics on performance.
Describe what external and internal causes and what the typical disruptions for each are. Describe the six internal disruptions to a supply chain. Describe the four external disruptions to a supply chain.
The supply chain dynamic indicates the supply of the product through a proper chain or multiple organizations. Regarding the performance, the success can be ensured through the right selection of the supply chain channels. Some key internal and external causes regarding the supply chain disruptions are lack of planning, lack of technology trends integration, and natural disasters. Also, the tough rules and regulations of government in the international supply chain is also a key factor or cause. The internal disruptions are lack of technology adaptation, inefficiency planning, lack of training, and lack of adequate resources. The external causes are natural disasters, shift in regulations, increase in transportation costs, sluggish economic condition, spikes in demands, and change in the supply chain trends.
Question 5
Identify the five major nested processes which define the supplier relationship process with upstream suppliers.
There are five major nested processes, which can help to maintain the good relations with the upstream suppliers. The first step is the sourcing, which is integrated with the supplier reduction program. The second step is managing the suppliers through better contracts or agreements along with some mutual concerns and benefits. The third step is the development of suppliers, which shapes their bargaining power. The fourth process is the initiation of the performance analysis. The fifth step is to enhance the visibility of operational procurement, which indicates the mutual plan driven procurement process. The perfect execution of these processes enables better relations with upstream suppliers (Wang, 2009).
Question 6
Explain how these three levers can improve supply chain performance: reduce replenishment lead times, reduce order lot sizes, and ration short supplies.
The supply chain performance can be improved through these three levers. For Instance, the reduction in the replenishment lead times can help to bring the efficiency of the supply chain process. The reduction in this process a can reduce the expense of the supply chain, and in the result, high-quality operations in the low cost can be sustained. Also, by reducing the order lot size, the company can maintain the orders effectively. Of course, the chances of disruption and damage can be eliminated through this reduction. In the end, delegating the short suppliers helps to share the supply chain responsibilities, which improves the process
Question 7
What is one way of reducing the dynamics in a supply chain?
Reducing the dynamics in a supply chain is not a complicated task for the supply chain management. For Instance, a large organization is using the multiple suppliers or supplier network. Thus, to reduce the dynamic, it is necessary to depict concentrate suppliers. The company can make a pool of suppliers to have high-quality material and supply of products. By reducing the dynamic through this method can save the company from different supply chain complexities such as high bargaining power and overall supply chain cost. The limited mobility of supply chain in the future can be demonstrated through reduction of dynamic (Fredendall & Hill, 2016).
Question 8
Describe BPM and BPMS tools and cloud computing.
The business process management is a process for the business management to control, measure, automated and streamline the business process. The management can have information on business metrics and make decisions. On the other hand, the business process management software is helpful for the management of the business to automate the process in an integrated system and improve with the passage of the time. The cloud processing is a process of using remote network servers to store, manage and execute the data in an effective manner. The cloud computing depicts the immense storage and remarkable data protection (Fredendall & Hill, 2016).
Question 9
Describe six internal disruptions to a supply chain.
In the internal business environment, there are many supply chain disruptions, and the company has to make decisions to overcome these disruptions to enable the long-term supply chain sustainability. The first a disruption can be occurred due to low financial capital, as it can stop the supply of the company. The second disruption is the impaired scheduling, and the flow of products can be impaired or delayed. The third disruption can be occurred due to the behavior of the supply chain management. The fourth disruption of the supply chain is triggered by the lack of organization. If people are not delegated or assigned at the right place or at the right time, the disruption may be visible. The fifth disruption is due to the inefficiency planning. In the end, the sixth disruption occurs due to lack of training and development process in the supply chain department of the company (Belvedere & Grando, 2017).
Question 10
What happens if you mitigate disruptions in the supply chain?
If I mitigate the disruptions in the supply chain process of the company, improvements can be ensured. Due to mitigation of these disruptions, the company can enable the efficient flow of products from procurement to consumers. The most important thing is to enable the supply chain sustainability. After mitigating these disruptions in the firm, the management will be able to identify further disruptions early along with some key strategies. The elimination of these disruptions can reduce the supply chain risk and make all outputs predictable. It seems a continuous improvement process and the management should make some appropriate strategies.
Question 11
Explain the purpose of cross-functional systems.
The cross-functional system is quite visible in the company, which contain the functional structure. In this system, different stakeholders the company is gathered to meet some common goals. For Instance, different departments such as marketing, sales, production, supply chain, administration and human resource can collaborate with each other to form a culture, which can help to meet the goals of the business. The purpose is to express the integrity of the company, and obviously, all teams have to play specific roles in it. For all levels of the company, this system can be created to justify the purpose (Belt, 2009)
Question 12
How does IT impact customers and enable a virtual environment?
Information technology creates an impact on customers. The management of the company, especially the marketing management intends to use these information technology tools to boost the integrated marketing communication. The purpose is to position better in the customer’s mind through communicating with them effectively. Interestingly, information technology has been used for brand awareness in this modern business era. The intervention of IT equipment in online business has created the virtual environment, as the customer also seems assertive in engaging with the company through these technological tools. It depends on the management and the business nature, which can depict the level of IT usability and virtual environment (Fredendall & Hill, 2016).
Question 13
Supply chain partners might use a ________ to develop joint sales and operations plans and projections of output if they have agreed on a common set of objectives.
Supply chain partners in the business use an integrated system to develop joint sales and operations plans and projections of output if they have agreed on a common set of objectives. For Instance, due to integrate system of the supply chain, all decisions, concerns, and intentions can be gathered to shape best strategies to meet the goals of the supply chain process. It seems a strategic alliance between partners, which enables them to agree on the same objectives and some mutual benefits. In operational and sales planning, the system may enable the effective reporting, tracking, and understanding of the process (Fredendall & Hill, 2016).
Question 14
Briefly describe the new Services/Product Development Process.
These phases are idea generation, idea screening, concept development, business analytics, product design, test marketing, and the product launch. The management has to idealize the product in the first phases and screen all ideas to come up with the prominent decision. Also, based on the business trends and nature, the company analyzes different concepts behind the product. Production team designs the product tests it in the market and finally launched in an effective manner. The product development process is integrated with a purpose, and it is to be justified in the marketing process (Wang, 2009).
Question 15
Briefly explain supply chain integration.
The supply chain integration is a process of coordination and alignment with different business operations and all key stakeholders to meet the requirements of the supply chain process. It contains the three dimensions. These dimensions are functional, internal, and external interactions. In the functional interaction, the supply chain process may be aligned with the different departments. Also, internally, the integration is visible due to different technology resources. In the external business environment, the integration is quite visible, such as third-party logistics, infrastructure, and industrial supply chain trends. The supply chain integration is important to enable its sustainability (Belt, 2009).
Question 16
Describe computer access and why it is essential.
The computer access is the accessibility, authentication, and authorization in the computer system. In any organization, the management uses the computer system to keep the data of the business. Only some authorized stakeholders of the business can have access to the data. In other words, the computer can recognize only a few people in the company to have access. Limited access is in the best interest of the company, as it ensures the data protection and security. The computer access is essential because, through biometric scans, passwords, and physical key, the management can keep the data safe and less vulnerable (Belvedere & Grando, 2017).
References
Belt, B. (2009). Five Basic Principles of Production and Supply Chain Management. Xlibris Corporation.
Belvedere, V., & Grando, A. (2017). Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management. John Wiley & Sons.
Fredendall, L. D., & Hill, E. (2016). Basics of Supply Chain Management. CRC Press.
Wang, J. (2009). Innovations in Supply Chain Management for Information Systems: Novel Approaches: Novel Approaches. IGI Global.
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