“Today supply chains do much more than just physically moving products and materials from one location to another. The digital, interconnected world demands that supply chains also serve as a connected, coordinated information ecosystem that delivers maximum flexibility, visibility, and transparency,” notes Scott Sopher, a principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP and leader of its Global Supply Chain practice.
Based on the above statement, you are asked to choose a sector/industry (e.g., food, technology, healthcare, retail, services, automotive), and critically:
Appraise how the supply chain structure has been evolved in the last five years in terms of globalisation, consolidation and integration
Evaluate how cooperation and creation of logistics clusters help to alleviate the demand amplification (bullwhip effect) phenomenon
Discuss how advanced technologies (e.g., Big Data analytics, Internet of Things, Omnichannel) enhance connectivity and improve overall supply chain performance in the sector/industry.
For each question above, you should support your arguments by bringing into the discussion 1-2 examples of companies that belong to the selected sector/industry. You will also need to consider the following when completing your assignment:
Quality of executive summary (does it give a brief complete summary of your paper for an executive to read?)
Establishment of relevant theory (e.g. how supply chain environments are differentiated from region to region?)
Allocation of credit and sources used (have I included references and citations to the material I have used?)
Clarity of argument
Overall report presentation including spelling and grammar
Adherence to nominated word limit (+/- 10%)
Word processed (letter size 12, times new roman, 1.5 space)
Fully referenced (Harvard Referencing System
