Supply Chain Management (SCM) refers to the technique of handling a string of operations involved in the transportation of raw materials from the source to an enterprise to develop a desired product or service, which will eventually be delivered to its intended customer.
A properly functioning supply chain is crucial to the development and growth of any country. It gives countries a competitive edge over others in the marketplace. Supply chain management is aimed at cutting down costs, maximizing efficiency, and increasing productivity.
To strike a fruitful balance between supply and demand, supply chain management must join hands with technology to improve supply chain processes and provide solutions to eliminate existing supply chain constraints.
To keep in view the above importance of Supply chain answer the following questions.
Q1. What are the Major Challenges in Supply Chain Management today? How Can you Overcome them?2.5 Marks (400 words Minimum)
Q2. Define the role of E-logistics in supply chain operations.2.5 Marks (400 words Minimum)
Q3. Explain the role of technology in Supply chain Management with special focus on Block chain technology.2.5 Marks (400 words Minimum)
Q4. Assume yourself as an advisor of Supply chain discipline, suggest ways and means through which supply chain efficiency can be improved?2.5 Marks (400 words Minimum)
Full Answer Section
Microcosm Group Process (3 marks):
- Selection: Choose a small, representative team from the finance department experiencing similar conflicts.
- Data Collection: Facilitate discussions within the microcosm group to identify the root causes of conflicts (e.g., communication issues, unclear roles, workload imbalance).
- Solution Development: Work collaboratively with the microcosm group to develop solutions to address the identified conflict points.
- Implementation and Evaluation: Pilot the developed solutions within the microcosm group and measure their effectiveness in reducing conflicts.
- Scaling Up: Based on the success of the pilot, refine and implement the solutions across the entire finance department.
3. Disadvantages of Functional Structure (4 marks):
- Limited Collaboration: Functional structures group employees by similar skills, which can create silos and hinder collaboration between departments.
- Slow Decision-Making: Information flow can be slow and cumbersome in a functional structure, as decisions might require approval from multiple department heads.
- Limited Innovation: The focus on departmental expertise can stifle innovation, as cross-functional collaboration is less encouraged.
- Customer Focus Issue: A functional structure can lead to a focus on departmental goals rather than a holistic view of the customer's needs.
In Miri & Co Partners' case, a functional structure might be contributing to the communication issues and conflicts within the finance department. Considering a shift towards a more cross-functional or matrix structure could be explored in the long term, but for the immediate situation, focusing on improving communication and collaboration within the existing structure is recommended.