Week 5 Discussion 1: Technology and Supply Chain Management

Discussion 1: Technology and Supply Chain Management

This week, you have read about supply chain management and how all the elements in the system are interconnected. Decisions made along each portion of the chain impact the other parts, both upstream and downstream. Because of this, supply chains need to be managed as integrated systems. Reflect for a moment on how supply chain management is a strategic function of an organization.

Post by Day 3 a 250- to 300-word statement that addresses the following:

• How has rapidly changing technology impacted supply chain management?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of implementing the latest technology in supply chain management? Explain why.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

Respond by Day 6 to two or more of your colleagues’ postings in one or more of the following ways:

• Ask a probing question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Make a suggestion.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you learned and the insights you gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.

Be sure to support your work with specific reference citations from the Learning Resources and any additional sources you consulted. All references must be cited in APA format in an alphabetized list of references at the end of your summary post.

This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week's assigned Learning Resources.

Required Resources

Readings

• Schroeder, R. G., Goldstein, S. M., & Rungusanatham, M. J. (2013). Operations management in the supply chain: Decisions and cases(6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
  • Chapter 10, “Supply Chain Management” (pp. 222–250)
    
    
    
    Chapter 10 introduces systems thinking as a way to identify how all the elements of the supply chain are interconnected, dependent on each other, and must be carefully coordinated. The chapter also discusses how technology and the Internet have made this process more efficient. The figures and tables in this chapter provide an excellent graphical representation of the supply chain process. Finally, the SCOR model for supply chain management is presented.
    
    
    
    Focus on the definitions provided throughout the chapter. Review and think about the examples and anecdotes provided in the chapters that illustrate the major ideas being conveyed. Consider how managers effectively conducted business in the past without today’s technology tools. Now consider how technology and the Internet have created a global marketplace for organizations.

Optional Resources