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Instructions of QSO 455 5-2 Final Project
Discussion
This is a group activity. For more information on groups, please see About Group Work.
Discussion questions are designed to help you make meaningful connections between the course content and the larger concepts and goals of the course. These discussions offer you the opportunity to express your own thoughts, ask questions for clarification, and gain insight from your classmates’ responses and the instructor’s guidance.
For this milestone, actively participate in a small group discussion with several of your classmates. Your group discussion should focus on the key stakeholders in the supply chain of your selected organization. Make sure to identify and evaluate their roles and explain their necessity. Include areas within your selected organization that can be improved with regard to operational goals as well as the integrated supply chain.
After your initial discussion post, respond to at least two of your group members. When responding to your peers, collaborate with them on the ideas they presented. Do you have advice for them to consider? Did they provide ideas you might want to consider? Use this as an opportunity to not only strengthen your project, but also to work with your peers on strengthening theirs.
This group discussion will help you explore new knowledge as you work toward your final project. Be sure to incorporate the insights you gain from this discussion into a new draft of your final paper.
To complete this assignment, review the Final Project Milestone Three Guidelines and Rubric.
Guidelines and Rubric
Discussion questions are designed to help you make meaningful connections between the course content and the larger concepts and goals of the course. These discussions offer you the opportunity to express your own thoughts, ask questions for clarification, and gain insight from your classmates’ responses and instructor’s guidance. For this milestone, you will actively participate in a small group discussion with several of your classmates. Your group discussion should focus on the key stakeholders in the supply chain of your selected organization. Make sure to identify and evaluate their roles and explain their necessity. Include areas within your selected organization that can be improved with regard to operational goals as well as the integrated supply chain. When responding to at least two of your group members, collaborate with them on the ideas they presented. Do you have advice for them to consider? Did they provide ideas you might want to consider? Use this as an opportunity to not only strengthen your project, but also to work with your peers on strengthening theirs.
Requirements for Discussion Topic Assignments
Students are required to post one (1) initial post and to follow up with at least two (2) response posts for each discussion topic assignment.
For your initial post (1), you must do the following:
Compose a post of one to two paragraphs.
Complete the initial post by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time of the module week.
Discuss the key stakeholders in the supply chain.
Evaluate each stakeholder’s role and necessity in the supply chain.
Discuss areas of improvement regarding operational goals.
Discuss areas of improvement regarding the integrated supply chain.
For your response posts (2), you must do the following:
Reply to at least two different classmates outside of your own initial post thread.
Complete the two response posts by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Demonstrate more depth and thought than simply stating, “I agree” or “You are wrong.” Guidance is provided for you in each discussion prompt.
This group discussion will help you explore new knowledge as you work toward your final project. Be sure to incorporate the insights you gain from this discussion into a draft in your final paper.
Step-By-Step Guide on QSO 455 5-2 Final Project: Milestone Three
Introduction to QSO 455 5-2 Milestone Three
This Owlisdom How-To Guide is aimed at assisting students in effectively engaging in a group discussion focused on the supply chain of their selected organisation, such as Apple Inc. This QSO 455 5-2 Final Project: Milestone Three will explore key stakeholders, evaluate their roles and importance, and identify potential areas for operational and supply chain improvements. This activity is designed to deepen understanding of integrated supply chain management and to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among peers.
Note: I selected Apple, Inc. for the QSO 455 course project.
Discuss the key stakeholders in the supply chain. Evaluate each stakeholder’s role and necessity in the supply chain. Discuss areas of improvement regarding operational goals. Discuss areas of improvement regarding the integrated supply chain.
Initial Post Instructions
To start QSO 455 5-2 Final Project: Milestone Three, we will discuss the requirements for Initial Post Instructions.
Key Stakeholders in the Supply Chain: Start by identifying the primary stakeholders involved in the supply chain of your selected organisation. These might include suppliers, customers, manufacturers, and distributors.
Example
Key Stakeholders in the Supply Chain: Apple Inc.’s supply chain is sustained by a network of essential stakeholders, including suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and customers (Lu et al., 2023). Suppliers procure critical raw materials and components, which are vital for Apple’s product innovation. Manufacturers convert these materials into finished products, adhering to Apple’s strict quality and efficiency standards. Distributors play a key role in ensuring these products are delivered to global markets efficiently, maintaining supply chain fluidity (Wang, 2020). Customers, as end-users, influence product and service specifications with their demands and feedback, which Apple utilises to steer product development and market strategies.
Stakeholders Roles and Necessity: Clearly describe the role of each stakeholder in the supply chain. Explain why each stakeholder is crucial for the supply chain’s functionality and success. For example, suppliers are necessary for providing the raw materials, while distributors play a key role in ensuring the products reach the market.
Stakeholders’ Roles and Necessity: Each stakeholder group is crucial for maintaining the seamless operation of Apple’s supply chain. Suppliers ensure the timely delivery of high-quality materials and components, which are fundamental to maintaining production schedules and product standards (Lu et al., 2023). Manufacturers are integral in transforming these materials into high-quality Apple products, while distributors manage the logistics required to reach diverse markets effectively. Customers provide the essential demand that drives the entire supply chain, offering feedback that shapes future product innovations and improvements. Their collective roles ensure operational efficiency and market responsiveness.
Areas of Improvement in Operational Goals: Discuss specific areas within the organisation’s operational goals that could benefit from improvements. This could relate to enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, or improving sustainability practices.
Areas of Improvement in Operational Goals: Apple can enhance its operational goals by increasing efficiency in manufacturing processes to reduce costs and improve product turnaround times. Expanding supplier diversity could lead to greater supply chain resilience and mitigate risks associated with supplier concentration (Lu et al., 2023). Additionally, enhancing sustainability initiatives could help meet increasingly stringent global environmental standards, improving corporate social responsibility and customer perception.
Areas of Improvement in Integrated Supply Chain: Identify elements within the integrated supply chain that could be optimised, such as logistics, inventory management, or customer relationship management.
Areas of Improvement in Integrated Supply Chain: Optimizing the integrated supply chain can focus on refining logistics and transportation to minimise costs and environmental impacts. Advanced inventory management techniques, such as just-in-time delivery, could help Apple reduce excess stock and shortages (Chen et al., 2021). Improving customer relationship management systems could lead to better understanding and anticipation of customer needs, ensuring higher satisfaction and loyalty. These improvements would not only increase operational efficiency but also strengthen market competitiveness.
Reply to at least two different classmates outside of your initial post thread. Demonstrate more depth and thought than simply stating that “I agree” or “You are wrong.” Guidance is provided for you in each discussion prompt.
Peer Responses
Responding to peers is one of the vital parts of the QSO 455 5-2 Final Project: Milestone Three. We need to provide at least two peer responses. I will provide one example post. You can write your peer responses by keeping the below points in mind.
- When responding to your peers, focus on constructive feedback and collaboration.
- Highlight any insights from their posts that are particularly valuable and discuss any additional ideas you think could further enhance the analysis.
- Offer suggestions based on your research or experience that could help refine their arguments or introduce new perspectives.
Response 01
Hi Max, great post! Your post provides a comprehensive overview of the key stakeholders in Apple’s supply chain and clearly highlights the roles they play in ensuring its efficiency and responsiveness. I appreciate how you have integrated the importance of sustainability and supplier diversity, which are crucial for future-proofing Apple’s operations. It is interesting how you emphasise the potential of just-in-time delivery to reduce inventory costs, something I had not considered deeply in my analysis. Your point about enhancing CRM systems to anticipate customer needs better also adds a valuable dimension to improving customer satisfaction and loyalty. These insights could be pivotal in further strengthening Apple’s market position.
Response 02
We are supposed to write two peer responses. I have addressed the given instructions in one response. Following these instructions, you can quickly write your peer responses to QSO 455 5-2 Final Project: Milestone Three without a hassle.
Closing
Participating in the QSO 455 5-2 Final Project: Milestone Three not only enriches your understanding of supply chain management but also enhances your ability to articulate complex ideas and engage with the viewpoints of others. By analysing the roles of key stakeholders and identifying areas for improvement, you contribute to a broader conversation about enhancing organisational efficiency and effectiveness. This How-To Guide will not only strengthen your project but also provide a collaborative platform to improve the work of your peers through shared insights and recommendations. You can also read QSO-455, the next module, 5-3 Assignment Case Study on Motorola.
References
Chen, X., Liu, Y., & Gong, H. (2021). Apple Inc. Strategic Marketing Analysis and Evaluation. 3053–3061. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211209.499
Lu, W.-M., Kweh, Q. L., Ting, I. W. K., & Ren, C. (2023). How does stakeholder engagement through environmental, social, and governance affect eco‐efficiency and profitability efficiency? Zooming into Apple Inc.’s counterparts. Business Strategy and the Environment, 32(1), 587–601.
Wang, F. (2020). Digital marketing capabilities in international firms: A relational perspective. International Marketing Review, 37(3), 559–577. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMR-04-2018-0128
