STUDY QUESTIONS 1. How would you distinguish between the following terms: alignm
ID: 326984 • Letter: S
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STUDY QUESTIONS 1. How would you distinguish between the following terms: alignment; relationships; and collaboration? 2. What are the basic types of supply chain relationships and how do they differ? 3. How would you distinguish between a vendor, a partner, and a strategic alliance? What conditions would favor the use of each? 4. What does it take to have an area of "core competency"? Provide an example. 5. Describe the steps in the process model for forming and implementing successful 6. What are some of the more common "drivers" and "facilitators" of successful supply 7. What is meant by "collaboration" between supply chain organizations? What are the supply chain relationships. What step(s) do you feel is (are) most critical? chain relationships? different types of collaboration?Explanation / Answer
1.Alignment is the process of linking an organization’s structure and available resources with its long-term strategy and the business environment. A company can also align its strategy with that of a partner for short-term benefits.
Relationships, on the other hand, is the process of forging a bond and long-term commitment.
Collaboration is simply the coming together of various entities to make something together such as a piece of good or a particular event or service.
There are subtle differences among the three.
2.There is two basic type of supply chain relationships: -
Vertical- For example between the buyer and seller. This is the traditional linkage between the firms in a supply chain like a distributor, wholesaler, retailer, customer, manufacturer.
Horizontal – It is between entities at the same level in the supply chain. Like two logistic service providers working in tandem to ensure that parts are delivered to the manufacturing facility in time by forging relationships and sharing data to ensure the smooth function across the supply chain.
3.
The range of relationships in a supply chain extends from that of a vendor to that of a strategic alliance partner. They can be differentiated only on the basis of the relationship forged with each of these entities.
The vendor provides the product or service. They are not fully integrated into the supply chain and have no knowledge of the end user or buyer. So, the relationship with a vendor is transactional in nature. Vendors should be used when making one time purchases or in times of crisis for contingency purposes.
A partnership, on the other hand, involves a customized business setting such that the setup delivers effective results for all the parties involved, the partners achieve more together than they would have done individually.
Partnerships must be done when a company expects to gain from synergy.
In case of a strategic alliance, the business partners discuss and change their own long-term objectives in such a manner so that the combined entity is able to perform better. Forming such alliance requires long-term commitment and involvement of both the partners. This kind of set up can be used in a situation where the market conditions are challenging or if the partners want to tackle competition.
4.A core competency is something which gives a sustainable long-term advantage to the company. For a competency to be core it is very important that it should follow the VRIN framework i.e. the competency should be Valuable, Rare, Inimitable and Non –Substitutable. For example, the core competency of Apple is its product differentiation strategy, innovation and it's unique brand image which makes it Valuable for the stakeholders and customers, the innovative ideas and products developed by Apple are rare, inimitable. The brand has such a strong image that over the years Apple products have become no substitutable.
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