MIS 3537   Internet and Supply Chains

Due Date: April 17, 2017

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

5.  Which standard do you think Developcom should adopt?  Why?

5. Why should a company like Developcom join a standards body?  What should be Developcom’s standards body standard?  Why?

MIS 3537   Internet & Supply Chains

Due Date: April 10, 2017

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?

MIS 3537   Internet & Supply Chains

Due Date: April 3, 2017

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 recommendations 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 27, 2017

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?
2. List at three ways in which information technology can help in this outsourcing?
3. What are five critical metrics which companies should use to evaluate the performance of suppliers (contract manufacturers)?  Explain.
4. What supply chain changes did Microsoft make between XBox and XBox 360? What was the motivation for these changes?
5. 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.

Background: A few students enrolled in the class after the lecture in week 1 and didn’t have the opportunity to join a case group prior to the first case (Crocs) assignment being due.   Hence, as promised, this is the alternate assignment for those few folks.  This is not an extra credit assignment.

Value: This assignment will count the same as the Crocs case assignment for those few students who didn’t have opportunity to be part of case team in time for that assignment.

Assignment: In reviewing the literature, the web, your classes, etc. there are many examples of businesses / companies that employ unique and valuable supply chains.

Select one (1) of these businesses / companies that we did not discuss in a class case.  For that business /company write a 1-2 page white paper that:

• Outlines the business model and specifically the supply chain for that business.
• Describes what is unique about the supply chain or how it provides value to the company.
• Describes how the use of I/T enables the uniqueness and/or value of this supply chain.
• Defines other core competencies that assure this supply chain creates value to the company.

Note: Assume the White Paper is going to be read by busy Supply Chain Managers.   These busy managers (like some professors) are not looking for lots of words and filler – they want to know all the critical facts and ideas presented in a clear, readable and compelling manner.

Due:  February 20th (in-class)

MIS 3537

 Internet Enabled Supply Chains

Spring 2017

Due Date: February 6, 2017

Refer to the case “Zappos.com: Developing a Supply Chain to Deliver WOW!”. Answer the following questions briefly.

1. Is Zappos mainly a pull or a push supply chain?  With an illustration of Zappos’ current supply chain, show the push-pull boundary of Zappos?  Also show the push-pull boundary of Zappos’ Drop Ship model.

2. Show the evolution of Zappos’ supply chain in a diagram.  What changes did Zappos make in its supply chain?  Do you think that these changes are justified?

3. What are Zappos’ core competencies and sources of competitive advantage?  How sustainable are they?

4. How would you expand the business?  Would you add more products, more geographies, or by selling private labels?

5. How would you expect the environment of a more cost conscious customers to affect Zappos’ business?  What can Zappos’ do to maintain sales in such an environment?

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.