Assignment #2 – Visit the Steelcase website at:

https://www.steelcase.com/products/interactive-whiteboards/eno/

And read about electronic whiteboards. What advantages and disadvantages do you see in using a whiteboard during a meeting? Would you recommend purchasing this product? Explain why or why not. Draft a memo to your boss outlining your recommendations and a plan for action (tips are listed below).

TIPS FOR CREATING AN EFFFECTIVE MEMO:

Memos

When preparing a memo, you

May use a lower-grade paper than you use for letters

May be asked to use a special memo form

Include the title “Memo” (or similar) at the top of the page either centered or flush left

At the top of a memo (arranged in almost any order), place introductory information such as

To:

From:

Date:

Subject:

If a memo has wide distribution, type “See distribution list” after “To:” and place recipient names at the bottom of the page (usually in alphabetical order).

The subject line (or lines) should be short but informative.

For the body of the memo:

Start on the fourth line below heading.

Use single-spacing, with double spacing between paragraphs (unless the memo is very short).

Either indent paragraphs or make them flush left.

Head the second page just as you would head the second page of letter.

Although no complimentary close or signature block is required in a memo, the sender may initial the memo beside his or her name or at the bottom of the memo.

Handle reference initials, enclosure notations, and copy notations just as you would in a letter.

Memos may be delivered by hand, interoffice mail, or post office.

MEMO SAMPLE:

MEMO Sample .pdf

Introduction of the Kibby and Strand

This document presents the Concepts of Operations (“ConOps”) for Kibby & Strand, a clothing manufacturing company that produces clothing for clients. This includes the initial bids, ordering raw material, producing the clothing, and shipping to buyers. Kibby & Strand sees the process from beginning to end. This information is to explain a sustainable business model to ensure profitability through employee retention, minimizing costs, and maximizing the production process.

This requires them to:

? Staff and train the appropriate labor to ensure the quality and quantity is accurate

to the contracts and bids within the organization

? Improve and update all cutting machines to accurately address the orders in the

required timeframe

? Partner with the best-suited delivery company for the organization while staying

current on the contracts

? Provide the highest quality of service from beginning to end

The CONOPS is written to assist supervisors in operating the growing company. The document provides the framework within the departments in a collaborated organization. Recognizing independent procedures while abiding by the organization’s overall policy. As the manufacturing of clothing is operationally large, the organization needs to secure contracts with a broad collection of vendors. Since most Kibby & Strand merchandise is purchased based on seasonal trends, response time, production, and shipping need to be centered at the beginning of each season.

Moving forward, Kibby and Strand will make data-driven decisions through developing, collecting, measuring, and analyzing key performance measures. With the assessments, the organization will operate on a reduction of cost while improving quality, staffing, and shipping time.

Learning Outcome: 

1. Demonstrate an understanding of how global competitive environments are changing supply chain management and logistics practice.

2. Apply essential elements of core logistic and supply chain management principles.

3. Analyze and identify challenges and issues pertaining to logistical processes.

Assignment Workload:

This assignment is an individual assignment.

Critical Thinking

Outsourcing and offshoring initiatives can help an organization fine-tune its business model to become more resilient and profitable. At the same time, these initiatives present challenges. 

In today’s highly competitive, extremely variable, and dynamic environment, many firms are seeking solutions. Supplychainmanagementbecomesmore sophisticatedandthedifferencebetweenwhat firmswanttoachieveandwhattheycandoin-house continues to grow, firms begin to realize that doing the right thing becomes more interesting than doing everything.Accordingly, they are becoming better focused and more specialized by outsourcing and offshoring activities that are far from their core businesses. In many cases firms decide to outsource this function in whole or in part to agents or third-party logistics firms. 

Using this concept of offshoring and outsourcing answer the following questions by taking any Saudi Local company or any Multinational company.

Questions: Each Question Carrying 2 Marks.

Define Third party logistics firms? Discuss its working procedure? (400-500 Words) 

Explain the motivational factors for going internationally? (400-500 Words)

On what ground companies choose developing country’s location for offshoring? Use examples. (Mention the country and decisive factors). (400-500 Words)

Why do companies outsource? (Use example of any Saudi company along its objective and scope for outsource). (400-500 Words)

Assess the reasons for using third party logistics service in Saudi Arabia? Using examples, Explanation regarding their logistics performance and priorities.  (400-500 Words)

Aligning IT Strategies to Business Strategies (115 points)

Delta Corporation has been very impressed with the progress it has made with its new product line and the new marketing approach that you recommended and instigated. As a result, it is now considering expanding this approach for its other product lines, providing them with the ability to market and sell all of its products online. However, it has not considered the implications for its IT department in developing this type of plan. As the Social Media Marketing Consultant, you are familiar with integrating business and IT strategic planning. They have called upon you to provide advice. You need to:

Explain what the company needs to consider if it is going to move to a more on-line approach for its sales and marketing activities. In particular, describe the consequences for its IT department and why they need to be involved in the planning phase.

Given the likely increase in costs associated with this move, you need to outline the potential benefits and possible pitfalls of outsourcing the IT maintenance and development.

Outline some strategic technology trends that the company may wish to monitor and consider for the future.

• Finally, research a company in Saudi Arabia and discuss whether they were able to align their overall strategy and their IT strategy. If they were successful discuss how they managed this alignment and what benefits they gained from doing so. If they were not so successful, explain how and why you felt that occurred.

Part 1:

Subject: Competitive Strategy

In this course, we discussed how several companies such as Ford (Learning from Mistakes opening incident) and Coca-Cola (Strategy Spotlight 7.4) adopted a localized international strategy. Interview a manager in an organization with foreign market exposure and ask the following questions: (1) what are the main benefits of localizing products or services in your industry?, (2) how do you manage the resulting complexity of localizing products or services?, and (3) do you find it necessary to localize other value chain activities (such as HR management)? Then ask yourself this question: Do the responses indicate that the organization is guided by established industry best practices or systematic strategic analysis of the internal and external environment?

Present a report of the above questions in an essay format. Bullet points should not be used.

Part 1 needs to be 800 plus words and APA format (refer the Competitive Strategy textbook)

Part 2:

Subject: Competitive Strategy

Practical Connection Assignment

Provide a reflection of at least 600 words of how the knowledge, skills, or theories of this course (Competitive Strategy) have been applied or could be applied, in a practical manner to your current work environment. If you are not currently working, share times when you have or could observe these theories and knowledge could be applied to an employment opportunity in your field of study.

Part 2 needs to be 600 plus words and APA format (refer the Competitive Strategy textbook)