Book Review: Supply Chain’s Flexibility – A Real Options Approach

This book contains of the investigation is about the process of decision making in supply chain management using a real options analysis framework. Specifically, the authors address issues regarding the optimal inventory level to hedge against demand uncertainties; the timing for equipment capacity implementation under market product mix complexity; the timing for workforce capacity reinforcement aiming market service requirements; and the decisions between integration and outsourcing in an uncertainty environment. Discrete and continuous time methodologies were used to identify the optimal value and timing of the options to adopt, when the demand is stochastic. Additionally, the effect of market requirements, such as product mix complexity and service level, were also taken into consideration. The demand is modeled under different stochastic processes; the impact of unexpected shocks is also explored, which enhances the generalization of the models to different business conditions. The applicability of the models enables the diversification and enrichment of the literature on the real options approach, within supply chain concept. Flexible inventory levels and the flexible capacity are supply chain features that can be used to deal with demand uncertainty

Redesigned ITESCM Model: An Academic SCM for the Universities

This exploratory research addresses the academic supply chain which consists of educational supply chain and educational management as the major constituents of the ITESCM (Integrated Tertiary Educational Supply Chain Management) model for the universities. The study revealed four main activities; includes education development, education assessment, research development, and research assessment; in the educational management. Four aspects of each main activity, namely Programs Establishment, University Culture, Faculty Capabilities, and Facilities were investigated at three decision levels. The original ITESCM model was developed based on the secondary data, i.e. analysis of the literature, and primary data, i.e. interviews with stakeholders of tertiary academic institutions. Model structures were defined and confirmed by 493 respondents, representing University administrators of leading tertiary educational institutions around the world, faculty and staffs, employers, and graduates. The resulting model was subsequently evaluated for accuracy and validity by multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis and the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. The redesigned model is the revised form of original ITESCM, that would be easily understandable and research equations are more user friendly for practical field applications. The research model and equations provide a novel approach for prospective investors or current administrators of the tertiary academic institutions to review and appraise their performance toward fulfillment of ultimate goals, i.e. producing high-competent graduates and significant research outcomes for the betterment of the consumer, i.e. the society

Book Review: A Handbook on Supply Chain Management

Supply Chain Managementcan be viewed as both an emergent field of practice and an emerging academicdiscipline. For academicians, it is an emerging field of study, where theprimary outputs are theory, insights, and research. For practitioners, it is anemergent field where the outputs involve new relationships, new developments,and new practice. Supply chain management is ultimately about influencing thebehavior of professionals and enriching knowledge of students in particulardirections and in particular ways. Supply chain management, a field developedfrom business practice and research, is undergoing a major transportation. Itis changing from tactical in nature (where the major focus is on cost anddelivery) to a field that is strategic in nature. This book is a compilation of18 papers that primarily take stock of developments in theory and practice insome important areas of current research

Enhancing Supply Chain Management for the Universities: ITESCM Model Perspective

This exploratory research addresses the application guidelines of ITESCM (Integrated Tertiary Educational Supply Chain Management) model for better Supply Chain Management in Universities. This study encompasses education supply chain, research supply chain and educational management as major constituents of ITESCM. Four main activities, includes education development, education assessment, research development, and research assessment in four aspects, namely Programs Establishment, University Culture, Faculty Capabilities, and Facilities were investigated at three decision levels. The ITESCM model was formulated based on the secondary data, i.e. analysis of the literature, and primary data, i.e. interviews with stakeholders of tertiary academic institutions. Model structures were defined and confirmed by 493 respondents, representing University administrators of world-ranking universities, faculty and staffs, employers, and graduates. The resulting structure was subsequently evaluated for accuracy and validity by multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis and the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. This empirical study represents two contributions in terms of human resource contribution and research contribution to the end customer, i.e. the society. Model evaluation by actual implementation is suggested for prospective investors or current university administrators

Book Review: Multi-tier Supply Chain Visibility in the Automotive Industry

This book investigates how to integrate intra-and inter organizational automotive supply chain entities into a holistic supply chain visibility (SCV) system which can be established in automotive supply chains for creating performance improvements in collaboration, delivery of high performance and efficiency. The theoretical part of the book clarifies the fundamentals of SCV assessing the existing technological developments from the electronics industry as well as general implications of information sharing and transparency on corporate performance. It also explains the current economic pressures, principal supply chain structures and efforts for creating supply chain visibility in the automotive industry. The foregoing theoretical findings with a practical analysis of an automotive engine supply chain as a case study is also united at the empirical part of this book. The author presents a practical framework entitled Virtual Command Center for the electronics industry to the particular requirements of the automotive industry which describes major drivers, goals, barriers and implications of automotive supply chain visibility (SCV)

Demand and supply planning in retail operations

The research represents a comprehensive study of retail operation.The paper elaborates a broad perspective of a demand and supply chain which interacts with macro and micro environmental factors and translates it into a customer requirement.The authors describe on different techniques and tools on demand and supply planning which leads to an optimized level of inventory, less cash outflow, higher product varieties and a greater customer satisfaction. Eventually fulfilling all these ensures increase in sales and profits to stakeholders; an ultimate objective of a firm. This paper demonstrates a holistic view on how a firm’s supply chain operates as a whole.In addition, this study also highlights some retail examples in the US as well as in Bangladesh which unlock further frontiers for the practitioners and prospective researchers to replenish their practices as well as expertise in the retail industry respectively

Prospect of ITESCM (integrated tertiary educational supply chain management) model based on ICT application

This research exhibits the prospect of ITESCM (Integrated Tertiary Educational Supply Chain Management) model through ICT (Information and Communication) application. The ITESCM model was developed by Dr. Mamun Habib in 2010 for tertiary academic institutions which addresses the integrated form of supplied inputs, supplied outputs, education supply chain, research supply chain and educational management for universities [17]. Four main activities, includes education development, education assessment, research development, and research assessment in four aspects, namely Programs Establishment, University Culture, Faculty Capabilities, and Facilities were investigated at three decision levels. Model structures were defined and confirmed by 493 respondents, representing University administrators of world-ranking universities, faculty and staffs, employers, and graduates. The resulting structure was subsequently evaluated for accuracy and validity by multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis and the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique.This empirical study represents two contributions in terms of human resource contribution and research contribution to the end customer, i.e. the society. The ICT application of ITESCM model provides a novel approach for prospective investors or current administrators of the universities to review and appraise their performance with comparing other universities toward fulfillment of ultimate goals, i.e. producing high‐competent graduates and significant research outcomes for the well‐being of the society

An Investigation of Education and Research Management for Tertiary Academic Institutions

This exploratory study addresses the education management and research management as the major constituents of the educational management for the tertiary academic institutions. The study revealed four main activities; includes education development, education assessment, research development, and research assessment; in the educational management for the Universities. Four aspects of each main activity, namely Programs Establishment, University Culture, Faculty Capabilities, and Facilities were investigated at three decision levels. The proposed model was developed based on the secondary data, i.e. analysis of literature, and primary data, i.e. interviews with stakeholders of tertiary academic institutions. Model structures were defined and confirmed by 493 respondents, representing University administrators of leading tertiary educational institutions around the world, faculty and staffs, employers, and graduates. The resulting model was subsequently evaluated for accuracy and validity by multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis and the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. The conceptual model and research equations provides a novel approach for prospective investors or current administrators of the tertiary academic institutions to review and appraise their performance toward fulfillment of ultimate goals, i.e. producing high‐competent graduates and significant research outcomes for the well‐ being of the society

A Novel Framework of E-Commerce Payment via Cell Phone

This exploratory study addresses an alternative e-commerce payment method via cell phone account. The increasing popularity of electronic commerce and the widespread use of cell phone can be made an interesting substitute method of e-commerce payment for customers and merchants. This paper represents a new method of e-commerce payment system to improve business processes and increase customer trust. The proposed model, based on the secondary data, is a guideline for the real life application those are connected to the low income community. This model would beneficial to the low income community as well as who are incapable of using credit cards but persist cell phones, could use his/her phone account as an electronic wallet. This payment method could be micro or macro payment, by which e-commerce exploration would be applicable possible in Bangladesh which representing one of the developing countries in the world. Due to the convenience, user friendly, more secured, affordable payment method, the suggested model would be highly acceptable to the community. However, the cell phone service providers can introduce this model as a value added service that would also enhance operations to the business community

Impact of UISC: A Case Study

This paper presents the impact of UISC (Union Information and Service Center) in Bangladesh, which is representing one of the developing countries in the world. The descriptive study investigates how UISC was established to setup ICT infrastructure in all 4,501 Union Parishads (UP, last tier of local government of Bangladesh), contributes to the knowledge based economy in Bangladesh. All the functions and processes of UISC, including background, rationale, target, outcome, methodology, implementation strategy, social impact, way of increasing income etc. have been analyzed through the assistance of different stakeholders of UISC in the form of interview, data collection and desk work through reviewing documents and analysis by a statistical tool. UISC provides different services to the rural areas through knowledge enhancement for both entrepreneurs and end customers in order to achieve benefits and plays role to make knowledge based society as well as contribute to the economic growth. Data collection and direct or indirect contact to the stakeholders represents that UISC has been moving ahead as per its policy guidelines i.e. ICT infrastructure establishment, entrepreneurs build up and make available maximum level of services as per need to the rural people. This case study encompasses how UISC contributes to enrich knowledge based economy in Bangladesh