CHAPTER 10- Global Logistics and Risk Management
Case - Wal-Mart Changes Tactics to Meet International Tastes
Questions-
1. Discuss situations in which each of these supply chains might be the appropriate choice for a firm:
a. International distribution systems.
b. International suppliers.
c. Offshore manufacturing.
d. Fully integrated global supply chain.
2. Discuss a recent example of an unknown-unknown risk that proved damaging to a supply chain. Explain specifically how each of the following strategies might have mitigated this risk:
a. Invest in redundancy.
b. Increase velocity in sensing and responding.
c. Create an adaptive supply chain community.
3. You are the CEO of a small electronics manufacturing firm that is about to develop a global strategy. Would you prefer a speculative strategy, a hedge strategy, or a flexible strategy? Would your answer to this question change if you were the CEO of a large electronics firm?
4. Discuss some examples of regional products and of true global products. What is it about the products that makes them better suited to being regional or global products?
5. You are the manager of a regional bakery. Contrast the issues you would face if your firm is located in each of the following countries:
a. Belgium
b. Russia
c. Singapore
d. Canada
e. Argentina
f. Nigeria
6. Answer these questions about the case at the beginning of this chapter:
a. Other than a need to expand, what other reasons would Wal-Mart have for opening stores globally?
b. Why would it be beneficial for Wal-Mart to have suppliers in different countries?
c. Why would Wal-Mart want strong centralized control of its stores? Why would Wal-Mart want strong local control of stores?
d. What pitfalls and opportunities, other than those mentioned in this case, will Wal-Mart face over the few years?