Supply Chain Management as a Value Driver

In Module 4, you learned that a successful supply chain strategy includes good design and implementation. However, supply chain strategy is not considered truly successful until there is a measurable contribution to the bottom line. To be successful, managers must plan, forecast, and execute the operational plan as well as face and overcome the organizational, partner-based, and personnel-based factors that can diminish value. Effective supply chain management continues to grow in importance as a competitive differentiator for most companies.

Using  the Internet, research supply chain management. As you examine , consider how change affects all stakeholders in the supply chain and apply those reflections to the following questions:

• Identify and cite two current examples of effective company supply chain strategies. Discuss how these strategies impact organizational effectiveness and yield desirable results.
• Describe how companies may fail to realize a competitive advantage or value for the customer when deploying supply chain strategies. What are some of the problems related to human factors that affect the success of supply chain management? Give at least three examples of such problems.
• What are some incentives that can be used to overcome the problems listed above?

Write your initial response in approximately 300–500 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.