Case Study Analysis Report will require students to explore a current phenomenon in business and examine it under a supply chain lens. In doing the analysis, students should answer the following questions (these can also be used as headings/subheadings):
• What is the phenomenon?
• How does it affect supply chain management and what features present particular difficulties to supply chain managers?
• What does it mean for the future of supply chain management?
• Supply chain map
1. Case (WalMart's Pickle)Page
https://www.npr.org/player/embed/564963483/564964736
2.Case (A series of mysterious packages)
https://www.npr.org/player/embed/606517326/606611029
3. Case (The bottom of the well)
https://www.npr.org/player/embed/605847068/605887308
4. Case (The bees go to California)
https://www.npr.org/player/embed/517076909/517133993
5. Case (Sell Me Your Climate Bombs)
https://www.npr.org/player/embed/917060248/917120172
6. Case (Self Checkout)
https://www.npr.org/player/embed/498572291/498628006
7. Case (The great fridge freeze out)
https://www.npr.org/player/embed/921333859/921356526
The recommended readings below are not intended as an exhaustive list of references. Students should also use the library catalogue and databases to locate additional resources.
1. Chopra, S. 2019, Supply chain management: strategy, planning and operation. Seventh Edition, global edition., Pearson, Harlow, United Kingdom.
2. Beamon BM. 1999. Measuring supply chain performance. International
Journal of Operations & Production Management. 19(3): 275-292.
3. Kopczak LR, Johnson ME. 2003. The Supply Chain Management Effect.
Sloan Management Review.
44(3): 27-34.
4. Lee HL. 2004. The Triple-A supply chain. Academy of Management Executive. Oct: 102-112.
5. Mentzer JT, DeWitt W, Keebler JS, Min S, Nix NW, Smith CD and Zacharia
ZG. 2001. Defining Supply Chain Management. Journal of Business Logistics. 22(2): 1-25.
6. Lee HL, V Padmanabhan, S Wang. 1997. The Bullwhip Effect in Supply Chains. Sloan Management Review 38(3): 93-102
7. Sheffi, Y., 2022. Prepare for the Bullwhip’s Sting. MIT Sloan Management Review, 63(2), pp.1-5.
8. Lee, H.L. and Billington, C., 1992. Managing supply chain inventory: pitfalls and opportunities. Sloan management review, 33(3), pp.65-73.
9. Fisher M. 1997. What is the right supply chain for your product? Harvard Business Review 75: 105-117
10. Mason-Jones, R., Naylor, B. and Towill, D.R., 2000. Lean, agile or leagile? Matching your supply chain to the marketplace. International Journal of Production Research, 38(17), pp.4061-4070.
11. Croxton, K.L., Lambert, D.M., García-Dastugue, S.J. and Rogers, D.S., 2002. The demand management process. The International Journal of logistics management, 13
(2), pp.51-66.
12. Bowersox, D.J., Closs, D.J. and Drayer, R.W., 2005. The digital transformation: technology and beyond. Supply Chain Management Review, 9(1), pp.22-29.
13. Kraljic, P., 1983. Purchasing must become supply management. Harvard business review, 61(5), pp.109117.
14. Hendricks, K.B. and Singhal, V.R., 2003. The effect of supply chain glitches on shareholder wealth. Journal of operations Management, 21(5), pp.501-522.
15. Chopra, S. and Sodhi, M.S., 2004. Managing Risk to Avoid Supply-Chain Breakdown. MIT Sloan Management Review, 46(1), p.53.
KEY JOURNALS IN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
• MIT Sloan Management Review
• Harvard Business Review
• International Journal of Operations and Production Management
• International Journal of Production Economics
• International Journal of Production Research
• Journal of Operations Management
• Journal of Supply Chain Management
• Supply Chain Management: An International Journal
• California Management Review
The marking criteria will focus on four factors.
1. Relevance 20%: Topic is clearly articulated and a central theme explicitly identified.
2. Organisation 20%: Presentation is logically organised in line with instructions.
3. Analysis 40%: Evidence of linking concepts covered in the content to the case, with arguments and assertions underpinned by the literature.
4. Reflection 20%: Evidence of reflection and comprehensive understanding of how theory and practice interact in the case.
The basic concern of Walmart is to invent the food for the future which could easily compete with Amazon. “Bright red pickle”, with Tropickle fruit punch and behind this logic Walmart is trying to stay competitive in the supermarket, as many consumer switch over their choice to Amazon in terms of buying whole foods. In the context of supply chain management, managers ought to be adaptable and agile in terms of ensuring that the product is available to consumers when they require it (Mason-Jones, 2000). As per the MBA Assignment Expert, Eventually, Walmart initiated an Innovation and Culinary Centre (npr.org, 2022). Amazon and Walmart are competing to become the one-stop shop for all consumer needs. however, both businesses sell everything. Walmart hopes that by launching "Bright Red Pickles," this special product will become the equivalent of the baby carrot: a food invention that children clamour for and that draws parents to the store. To experience some of the action, they venture behind the scenes.
In revenue, Walmart is still bigger than Amazon. Eventually, Walmart became the market leader in the Whole Foods segment when Amazon came up with their Whole Foods variety, decreasing the price at the same time, still, one survey showed about 1 in 4 of those new Amazon Whole Foods shoppers came over from Walmart. Hence, with some appealing groundbreaking research “Tropickle” food concept was introduced by Walmart, inspired by similar pickles that might be found in barbecue joints and can be found in Misisipi joints and the taste is crazy. Supply chain managers need to cooperate with different departments within their company, as well as with customers, and suppliers in terms of successfully managing and launching their pickle (Sheffi, 2022). In terms of improving profit margin and being ahead of market competitors the invention of Bright Red Pickles will be a great opportunity for Walmart. Lastly, it could be mentioned that supply chain managers are progressively being called upon to support innovation. This is because innovation can help Walmart differentiate their products from those of its competitors and plead to new customers.
Sourcing: During the manufacturing of Bright Red pickles by Walmart, they have to maintain some of the dependable suppliers for better sourcing procedures. In this context, colouring addictive is harder to find in the form of natural essence rather than Artificial one.
Demand forecasting: Before the launch of any product company needs to maintain a thorough demand forecast structure. It is required to maintain consumer requirements for products like Bright Red Pickles by predicting demand. The pickle by Walmart is a unique product; it is difficult for Walmart to predict demand as no prior or basic data is available there.
Inventory control: In order to control understocking or overstocking of Bright Red Pickles, Walmart will be required to closely observe its levels of stock. Understocking can result in product degradation and higher expenses, whereas overstocking can result in a loss in sales.
Transportation: Walmart will need to transport Bright Red Pickles from its suppliers to its distribution centres and then to its stores. This can be challenging due to the fact that Bright Red Pickles is a perishable product.
Storage: Bright Red Pickles will need to be stored at the appropriate temperature to ensure that they remain fresh and safe to eat. Pickle is a very putrescent product and sometimes it is very difficult for supply chain managers to maintain its freshness.
â—Ź It could be more challenging to find and carry an authentic colouring agent than synthetic ones for the product
â—Ź The colouring procedure could call for more stages or equipment, increasing the production's cost and intricacy.
â—Ź Walmart will have to guarantee that Bright Red Pickles are suitable to consume and that the colouring technique hasn't changed the pickles' flavour or texture.
Supply chain managers may face several difficulties when trying to market Bright Red Pickles. But if Walmart can overcome these obstacles, the product might provide enormous advantages for the business, including increased sales, decreased costs, and improved customer happiness. The fast growth of e-commerce is having significant effects on supply chain management (SCM). Even if clients are placing orders from far-off places, supply chain managers must be able to deliver goods to them quickly and effectively. Supply chain managers are implementing new technologies like blockchain, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to increase efficiency and visibility (Bowersox et al., 2005). The management of supply networks could change as a result of these technologies. Supply chains are getting more and more globalised, as businesses source items and supplies from every corner of the world. As a result, supply chain managers now have to manage inventory across many time zones and contend with various rules.
Bowersox, D.J., Closs, D.J. and Drayer, R.W., 2005. The digital transformation: technology and beyond.Supply Chain Management Review, 9(1), pp.22-29
Chopra, S. 2019, Supply chain management: strategy, planning and operation. Seventh Edition, global edition., Pearson, Harlow, United Kingdom
Mason-Jones, R., Naylor, B. and Towill, D.R., 2000. Lean, agile or leagile? Matching your supply chain to the marketplace. International Journal of Production Research, 38(17), pp.4061-4070.
npr.org, 2022. Episode 806: Walmart's Pickle Available at: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/11/17/564956657/episode-806-walmarts-pickle. [Accessed 23/9/23]
Sheffi, Y., 2022. Prepare for the bullwhip’s sting. MIT Sloan Management Review, 63(2), pp.1-5.