Small Tutorial (WG) Exercise 2 International Business Administration Global Supply Chain Management Please read the following questions and try to answer them before your small tutorial class in week 7. There is no need for submission. You are going to have a discussion on these questions. Questions: 1. The flow of information has become more and more important in supply chain management. Describe the key impacts of information on supply chain performance in terms of responsiveness and efficiency with reference to the logistics industry. 2. Discuss the following proposition with reference to an automobile garage handling maintenance and repair: “Modal choice decisions could improve the responsiveness of the supply chain performance.” 3. Consider a retailer like Marks & Spencer (M&S), which is outsourcing parts of its delivery services to a logistics provider. When should such a company choose to operate its own account operation to provide delivery services? 4. How can the full set of logistical and cross-functional drivers be used to create strategic fit for a furniture manufacturer, specializing in kitchen cabinetry, targeting both timesensitive and price-conscious customers? 5. What effect does the geographic disparity of customers in a large country, like India or China, have on selecting the number of distributors needed to supply, for example, electrical white goods such as fridges to retailers? Refer to the supply chain costs that such a decision might lead to in your answer. 6. What types of distribution networks are typically best suited for commodity items? 7. What type of distribution network is typically best suited for sales of click-and-collect type apparel items? 8. Consider an automotive spare parts retailer implementing distributor storage with lastmile delivery. List some advantages and disadvantages that the retailer would experience with this method. 9. Amazon sells books, music, electronics, software, toys, and home improvement products online. In which product category does e-business offer the greatest advantage compared with a retail store chain? In which product category does e-business offer the smallest advantage (or a potential cost disadvantage) compared with a retail store chain? Why? 10. Why should an online channel such as Amazon build more warehouses as its sales volume grows?
