The purpose of this assignment is to identify and apply IOSCM (International Operations Supply Chain Management) concepts/tools to solve problems in managing international operations. To this purpose, you should find an interesting IOSCM problem from the real business world and think about how you can apply the IOSCM concepts/tools that you learned in this course to solve the problem.
More specifically, each individual should:
• Find a problem in managing international operations supply chain from the real business world (from your own work experience or from any business articles/cases)
• Identify specific IOSCM concepts/tools that can be applied to the problem
• Apply at least two operation supply chain concepts/tools to propose a solution to the problem
• Analyze the expected results that may be obtained when the solution is implemented.
The table in the appendix below will serve as the grading rubric for this assignment.
The report should be 10-15 pages in length including the cover and appendices, with 1” margins on all sides, double-spacing, and 12 point font. The cover of the report should include title, class code and name, section number, your full name, and date of completion.
The report MUST follow the outline below:
1. Abstract (150 words maximum)
• Summarize the entire report, including problem statement, IOSCM concepts/tools that have been applied to the problem, and expected results of the proposed solution.
2. Background information
• Clearly state whether the problem is from your own work or from business articles/cases. If it is from business articles/cases, provide its source (title, author, name of the journal, date published).
• Briefly introduce the company background (e.g., name, products, business size, location, internal/external interesting facts, etc).
3. Problem Description
• Describe the problem clearly and specifically.
o You should focus on a single problem, although you can introduce several other issues for informational purposes.
o The problem may involve either operational decision-making, process improvement, or supply chain strategies in managing international operations and supply chain.
• This section must include a problem statement starting with, e.g., “This paper considers the problem of determining …”, “The main problem of the firm is how to …”, etc, either in the beginning or at the end of the section.
4. IOSCM concepts/tools that can be applied
• Describe what specific IOSCM concepts/tools can be applied to the problem and why they are appropriate to the problem. This section should make it clear that you understand the concepts/tools you are about to use. Since section 5 need to apply two or more IOSCM concepts, at least two IOSCM concepts need to be identified in this section.
5. Application of IOSCM concepts/tools
• Choose two or more IOSCM concepts/tools among the ones provided in section 4 and apply it to propose a solution to the problem.
• This section should include your supportive evidence/calculations in details to show how you have applied the IOSCM concept/tool(s) to develop the solution.
6. Analysis of expected results
• Analyze the expected results of the proposed solution.
• The expected results may include cost/revenue impact and/or improvement of operational performance. You must be specific to receive full credit.
• Discuss the pros and cons of the suggested solution.
7. Conclusion
• Conclusion about the problem, IOSCM tools, analysis, and results.
• Compare what’s the difference between domestic and global operation supply chain management in your case.
You are highly encouraged to find a problem from your own work if you work for a multinational company, so that you may apply to your work the concepts/tools that you learned from this course. However, if you want to find a problem from business articles/cases, you can find one from any journals/newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and so on. Or you can surf the Internet to find an interesting article/case.
The meaning of a problem in managing international operations will become clearer as you study this course. As you can see in the textbook contents and course schedule, an IOSCM problem may involve but not limited to global operations strategy, global sourcing, global supply chain management, logistics network design for global operations, risk management in global
operations, information management for global operations, process design and improvement for global operations, etc.
Examples of the IOSCM concepts/tools that can be applied to your problem include but not limited to Strategic Importance and Criticality Matrix, third-party logistics, criteria for backward vertical integration versus development of local suppliers, framework for supply chain structures, three approaches for the orientation of facility networks, operational flexibility for minimizing operating exposure, ERP/SCM systems, etc.
Appendix: Expectations for the Individual Project
1. Identification of problem in managing international operation and supply chain
Below Expectations:
Lack of understanding about what problems are faced when managing international operations and supply chain. Problem description may be vague.
Meet Expectations:
Accurately identifies problems in managing international operation and supply chain but may omit issues of minor significance.
Exceed Expectations:
Accurately identifies problems in managing international operation and supply chain and describes the problems clearly and specifically.
2. Identification of appropriate IOSCM concepts/tools
Below Expectations:
Fails to identify appropriate IOM concepts/tools that can be applied to the identified problem or selects inappropriate IOSCM concepts/tools.
Meet Expectations:
Identifies appropriate IOSCM concepts/tools that can be applied to the identified problem.
Exceed Expectations:
concepts/tools that can be applied to the identified problem. Identifies a novel approach that combines multiple IOSCM concepts/tools that can be applied to the identified problem.
3. Application of IOSCM concepts/tools
Below Expectations:
Inappropriately applies the selected IOSCM concepts/tools to the identified problem.
Meet Expectations:
Appropriately applies the selected IOSCM concept/tools to the identified problem although the application may lack some depth.
Exceed Expectations:
Applies the selected IOSCM concepts/tools expertly in detail and in depth to the identified problem.
4. Analysis of results
Below Expectations:
Superficial or absence of analysis. May analyze results that are not directly related to the solution.
Meet Expectations:
Provides some analysis of results related to the solution. May omit discussion of some results.
Exceed Expectations:
Provides some analysis of results related to the solution. May omit discussion of some results.
5. Discussion of implementation issues
Below Expectations:
Limited discussion of possible action plan(s).
Meet Expectations:
Discusses specific action plan(s) relevant to the solution.
Exceed Expectations:
Provides specific action plan(s) and in-depth discussion of possible implementation issues
