Q&A: Ethics and Green Supply Chain
How does technology / information systems help companies become socially and environmentally responsible? Give examples.
100 second reflection for week 10
Think for 100 seconds, and summarize the key things that you learned in the class in week 10 – Ethical and Green Supply Chains, Amazon.com Europe case, …
Starbucks 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):
- 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?
- How valuable had the Starbucks-CI alliance been to both, and what should it’s future be?
- How might the Fair Trade coffee operation be related to the shade-tree conservation coffee operation?
- How should Starbucks and CI approach other roasters to adopt the sourcing guidelines?
- 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.
Amazon: Future Delivery Methods?
What is your reaction to this delivery method of the future?
Would you pay extra for this service?
Amazon.com Europe Case
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.
Clarification of Case Grading
As discussed in class yesterday – below is the method I use to grade the case assignments.
Each case has a maximum of 10 points that can be awarded.
I choose 4 of the questions posed for grading An answer that is complete (e.g. per question instructions) and touches the themes from the case will receive 2 points each. This represents (2 x 4) 8 of the possible 10 points.
I also award a maximum of 2 added points for any of the following:
- Unique, creative, insightful comments or analysis from the case materials
- The critical facts and ideas in the answer are presented in a clear, readable and compelling manner.
The following are examples of answer to a possible case question. The content (ideas) are the same in each example. However, I believe that Example 1 presents them in a clearer, and more readable and compelling manner.
_______________ Example 1
Keys to Success:
More content available: providers bring sufficiently different content on one site obviating need to visit other sites or use different viewing options.
Free to use: users only need to register to watch much free content.
Popularity: Providers use social network platforms to attract more users / audience
Relationship with Partners: Understand each partner’s business to provide what they desire (profit, audience share, buzz, etc.)
_______________ Example 2
There are several keys to success. Having more content available as well as sufficiently different content on one site obviates need to visit other sites or use different viewing options. Providing viewing free of charge means users only need to register to watch much the content. Providers use social network platforms to attract more users / audience and drive up their popularity. A strong Relationship with Partners is also a key to success. The relationship allows understanding each partners’ business to provide what they desire most (profit, audience share, buzz, etc.).
100 second reflection for week 9
Think for 100 seconds, and summarize the key things that you learned in the class in week 9 – Fulfillment / eDistribution Strategies, Xbox case, …
100 second reflection for week 8
Think for 100 seconds, and summarize the key things that you learned in the class in week 8 – Global Sourcing / Outsourcing, Hulu case, …
XBox Case
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):
- Why do companies outsource production? List three ways in which technology can help in this outsourcing?
- List five metrics which companies can use to evaluate the performance of suppliers (contract manufacturers)?
- What supply chain changes did Microsoft make between XBox and XBox 360? What was the motivation for these changes?
- 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.
Q&A: Sourcing
Natural disasters such the Japan tsunami of 2011 can cause great disruptions in the supply chain. Read this article on how the supply chain of technology companies has been affected by this event (click here).
What steps can companies take to prevent such disruptions in supply chains?