First, pick a topic that you think would be fun to spend 10 hours or so learning and writing about. Some that come to mind, in no particular order, are:

• Big data analytics
• Collaborative transportation (e.g., Uber for trucking)
• Collaborative warehousing (e.g., FLEXE)
• Autonomous vehicles
  • Inside facilities like autonomous forklifts
  • Between facilities like autonomous trucks that pull 53’ trailers
• Cybersecurity related to sharing data among supply chain partners
• Supply chain risk management
• Food supply chain with tracking and tracing

Then, find several sources for information on the topic using the library and general internet search. The library has great search engines like Nexis Uni for newspapers and magazines worldwide and Google Scholar for a wide range of academic literature.

Read and think about the topic and then write a two-page white paper (1.15 spacing, 12-point font, 1-inch margins) that summaries what you found out. References can be on a third page if needed.

I am looking for you to show me that you read enough … and thought enough … to communicate an interesting and accurate story about some portion of the topic you chose. This is all about quality, not quantity.