MIS 3537

Internet and Supply Chains

Due Date: April 7, 2016

Refer to the case “RosettaNet and ebXML: Betting on the Right eBusiness Standard”

Answer the following questions briefly (6-7 lines each):

1. Why are standards necessary in eBusiness?

2. Which standard do you think Developcom should adopt?  Explain your answer giving reasons from the case as well as the Exhibits at the end.

3. What do you understand by the term ‘network externalities’?  Also explain the phenomenon of ‘winner takes all’ in markets with network externalities.

4. Why are network externalities important in eBusiness standard wars?  Give examples from the RosettaNet case.

MIS 3537

Internet & Supply Chains

Due Date: March 31, 2016

Refer to the case “Starbucks and Conservation Internationaly”

Answer the following questions briefly (6-7 lines each):

1. What lessons should be learned from the Chiapas project? What are the factors that produced the current results of the alliance between Starbucks and CI?
2. How valuable had the Starbucks-CI alliance been to both, and what should it’s future be?
3. How might the Fair Trade coffee operation be related to the shade-tree conservation coffee operation?
4. How should Starbucks and CI approach other roasters to adopt the sourcing guidelines?
5. What is your assessment of the new coffee-purchasing guidelines? How should they be implemented?

All groups (expect the group making the presentation) are required to submit a printout of their answers to the instructor at the beginning of the class. Also, be prepared to discuss the case in the class.

MIS 3537

Internet & Supply Chains

Due Date: March 24, 2016

Refer to the case “Amazon.com’s European Distribution Strategy”

Answer the following questions briefly (6-7 lines each):

1. Explain how Amazon.com’s distribution strategy evolved in the early years (1995-1998)?

2. After the dot com crash, Amazon.com took steps to improve its operational excellence with a view to reduce costs and hence improve profitability.  Descibe the main steps that Amazon took at this stage.

3. Describe the key challenges that Amazon Europe faced with respect to globalization and localization.

4. What were the main decisions that Tom Taylor faced while accessing the EDN opportunity?

5. Should Amazon implement the EDN in Europe? What recommendation would you give Tom Taylor?

All groups (expect the group making the presentation) are required to submit a printout of their answers to the instructor at the beginning of the class. Also, be prepared to discuss the case in the class.

MIS 3537

Internet and Supply Chains

Due Date: March 17, 2016

Refer to the case “Evolution of the XBox Supply Chain”.

Answer the following questions briefly (6-7 lines each):

1. Why do companies outsource production? List three ways in which technology can help in this outsourcing?
2. List five metrics which companies can use to evaluate the performance of suppliers (contract manufacturers)?
3. What supply chain changes did Microsoft make between XBox and XBox 360? What was the motivation for these changes?
4. Microsoft planned to use three EMS firms for XBox 360, all manufacturing in China. What are the benefits and pitfalls of this approach?

All groups (expect the group making the presentation) are required to submit a printout of their answers to the instructor at the beginning of the class. Also, be prepared to discuss the case in the class.

Although I only received change instructions for 3 of the 7 teams, I have made the changes requested and reset the game.

Per majority request (only way I could configure it) all single players will play with the reduced shipping delay (2 weeks -> 1).

You can now proceed to play Round 2.

Good Luck!

Case questions in this document.

The case is due February 25 and will be discussed in class that day.

MIS 3537

Internet & Supply Chains

Due Date: March 10

We will complete the Root Beer Game as per the following schedule:

1. Practice session in class (completed) – February 4

2. Completion of round 1 – in class February 11

3. Team decision (via e-mail to professor) on change to make in Round 2 – February 18

4. Game reset and ready to start round 2 – February 20

3. Completion of round 2 and submission of deliverables – by March 10

Group members are not supposed to coordinate with each other during the practice session and round 1. They can coordinate for round 2.

In round 2, each team can make one of the following changes:

• Point of sale (POS) information visible to all roles  (not just the retailer).
• Shipping Delay reduced to 1 week from 2
• Information Delay (orders) reduced to 1 week from 2

Note that the demand pattern may change between the different rounds. The intent of playing multiple rounds is to demonstrate how manipulating certain aspects of the game can influence the performance of the supply chain.

Here are the deliverables of the beer game (one submission per group):

1. Complete the performance spreadsheet of your group (click here)

2. Prepare a short writeup on how you played the beer game, what strategies you employed, and how your strategies changed when you played the beer game for the second time compared to the first time (you can use the questions below to prepare your talking points).

1. What was your strategy in the game with respect to order placing and holding inventory?
2. How was the communication and cooperation between various players in the group?
3. When you played the game for the second time, how did your strategy change in terms of – ordering and inventory strategy? cooperation with team members?
4. What lessons from the beer game would you give to supply chain managers?

Due Date: March 10