Business Operations in Your Organization: A Systems View
Selected organization: Tanzania Breweries Company Limited
In this paper you are required to develop a systems perspective of business operations in your organization, or the organization you have chosen to use as an appropriate subject for analysis, as a whole.
Your task is to show how the business operations in your organization, or the organization you have chosen as an exemplar, can be brought into harmony, generating the smooth flow of information and materials throughout the value network for the benefit of customers and the competitive success of the organization. A key element of the Praxis Paper is the identification and framing of an organizational problem that relates to the course topics covered in the second half of the course. Your research should lead you to identify possible solutions to the problem(s) you identify. You will apply knowledge gained in the course in order to present advantages and disadvantages of various approaches to the problem(s) with the goal of generating the smooth flow of information and materials throughout the value network in order to increase the organization’s competitive success.
Step 1, focus on the importance of effective logistics management in smoothing the flow of materials, reducing inventory costs and enabling responsiveness throughout the supply chain. Step 2: you are required to complete an analysis of the outsourcing of capabilities to achieve optimal coordination of inter-functional operational processes and inter-organizational collaboration across the whole value chain and consider the need for new kinds of relationships with suppliers.
Step 3: you are required to conclude the paper by developing and presenting a strategy for implementing change in the organization with the objective of bringing about a transformation that will secure competitive advantage through improved performance, coordination, and innovation.
This systems perspective will allow you to formulate a strategy for the management of operational issues relevant to your chosen organization such as demand, supply, production, inventory, and logistics with a view to assessing how processes can be managed to bring about integration, coordination, and harmonization throughout the supply chain.
This Paper will comprise 8-10 pages in APA format. One to three diagrams and presentation slides may be included, but they will be additional to the required length of the paper. You are required to include research from at least two first-person interviews and at least two peer-reviewed practitioner or scholarly journals in addition to your weekly readings.
Use: peer-reviewed practitioner or scholarly journals.
Suggested journals
Step 1
- Wallin, C., Rungtusanatham, M. J., & Rabinovich, E. (2006). What is the “right” inventory management approach for a purchased item? International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 26(1/2). Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global database.
This article explores four basic approaches to the problem of inventory management and shows their application to different circumstances. - Pokharel, S. (2005). Perception on information and communication technology perspectives in logistics: A study of transportation and warehouses sectors in Singapore. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 18(1/2). Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global database.
This survey analyzes perceptions of logistics companies in Singapore concerning the benefits of ICT applications for their industry - Varila, M., Seppänen, M., & Suomala, P. (2007). Detailed cost modelling: A case study in warehouse logistics.International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 37(3). Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global database.
Step 2
- Phillips, W., Lamming, R., Bessant, J., & Noke, H. (2006). Discontinuous innovation and supply relationships: Strategic dalliances. R&D Management, 36(4). Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.
This article explores the need for supply relationships to generate, support, and respond to discontinuous innovation. - Simpson, D. F., & Power, D. J. (2005). Use the supply relationship to develop lean and green suppliers. Supply Chain Management, 10(1). Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global database.
This doctoral research paper presents a conceptual framework for investigating the relationship between a supplier firm’s level of environmental management and the structure of the customer-supplier manufacturing relationship. - Christopher, M., & Towill, D. R. (2002). Developing market specific supply chain strategies. International Journal of Logistics Management, 13(1). Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global database.
The authors seek to demonstrate that global supply chain strategies can be developed to achieve higher levels of customer responsiveness at lower total cost.
- Gottfredson, M., Puryear, R., & Phillips, S. (2005). Strategic sourcing from periphery to the core. Harvard Business Review, 83(2). Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.
The authors contend that outsourcing is becoming so sophisticated that even core functions like engineering, R&D, manufacturing, and marketing can and often should be moved outside the organization.
- Gosain, S., Lee, Z., & Kim, Y. (2005). The management of cross-functional inter-dependencies in ERP implementations: Emergent coordination patterns. European Journal of Information Systems, 14(4). Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global database.
This report presents primary data related to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations at four large organizations representing different industries and implementation strategies.
- Chi, L., & Holsapple, C. (2005). Understanding computer-mediated interorganizational collaboration: A model and framework. Journal of Knowledge Management, 9(1). Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global database.
This article takes a systematic view of collaboration between different organizational systems and offers an integrative model supported by empirical examples of key issues.
Kim, D., Cavusgil, S. T., & Calantone, R. J. (2006). Information system innovations and supply chain management: Channel relationships and firm performance. Journal of Academy of Marketing Science, 34(1). Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global database.
This article reports the effects of innovation in supply chain communication systems on channel relationships and market performance. The hypothesis is that certain innovations can enhance channel capabilities, and hence an organization’s market performance.
Step 3
- Phillips, W., Noke, H., Bessant, J., & Lamming, R. (2006). Beyond the steady state: Managing discontinuous product and process innovation. International Journal of Innovation Management, 10(2). Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.
This article argues that in a world of rapid change and technological revolution companies must deal proactively with the challenge of discontinuity. - Kontoghiorghes, C., Awbre, S. M., & Feurig, P. L. (2005). Examining the relationship between learning organization characteristics and change adaptation, innovation, and organizational performance. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 16(2). Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global database.
This article suggests that the structural, cultural, and information systems of a learning organization determines its success with adaptation to change, quick product or service introduction, and bottom-line organizational performance.
