Maine marine supply case solution

SCM 800

West Marine Case Team Assignment

Assignment Document:

This document includes the following assignment information needed to complete this case assignment:

I. Assignment Objectives

II. Assignment Introduction

III. Assignment Directions

IV. Assignment Guidelines and Requirements

V. Assignment Questions

VI. Grading Criteria

VII. Cover Page

VIII.

I. Assignment Objectives:

The goal of this assignment is to utilize concepts mastered and apply them in a real world setting. West Marine explores various themes including but not limited to the following:

1. Evaluate CPFR and its impact of a firm

2. Explore issues surrounding collaboration and coordination in a supply chain environment

3. Analyze the impact of mergers and acquisitions on supply chain management

4. Illustrate implementation challenges and propose solutions utilizing CPFR

5. Specify and analyze various costing issues

6. Assess risk and mitigation strategies

II. Assignment Introduction:

This real world case assignment is designed to help students evaluate the use of a collaborative approach to integrating across the SCOR processes of Plan, Source and Deliver (Customer Fulfillment) within the context of a retail environment. Teams will assess the firm’s supply chain before and after the implementation of CPFR. They will analyze the existing supply chain’s problems, propose solutions, and will critically evaluate the CPFR process—including its strengths, weaknesses, implementation challenges, and operational issues.

III. Assignment Directions:

You are to develop a 17 slide professional PowerPoint presentation. You must use proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, sentence construction, proper paragraph usage, etc. Assume you will be using this deck in a presentation for corporate leaders within the West Marine organization!

Therefore, you need to prepare the slides in a professional manner. For example--in a professional slideshow you would not use complete sentences on a particular slide…you would normally use bullet points. Also, graphs, URL’s to short video clips, etc. would be helpful.

Please note I will be evaluating the slides in the presentation mode. If the slides cannot be read in that manner, you will lose points.

Since you cannot answer the questions totally on the slides themselves, teams should use the Notes portion (see Notes page under the View tab of the PowerPoint slide presentation) of the PowerPoint slides for areas that require in depth explanation. When you utilize the Notes section, you are limited to the PowerPoint slide on the top of the Notes page and the information below it.

All extra information about a particular slide must fit on that 8.5 by 11 portrait version of the Notes page for a particular slide. I would suggest on this portion of the slide to reference the question you are answering by stating on the first line Q1, Q2, etc. By seeing this marker--Q1, Q2, etc.--I will know what question you are answering. No need to repeat the questions--I know them.

One of the early slides should include an agenda slide and/or objective slide--this slide is not counted toward the total. Also, you will be required to have a summary slide that includes a “next set of steps” recommendation--this slide is not counted toward the total.

Please note: The team should place citations on the slides as needed that illustrate the problems/questions/goals/objectives, etc. you are trying to obtain.

See the Course Schedule for due dates for these deliverables.

IV. Assignment Guidelines and Requirements:

1. Your team’s responses should be organized into a PowerPoint presentation of approximately 17 slides. Is the presentation concise and succinct?

2. All extra information about a particular slide must fit on that 8.5 by 11 portrait version of the N otes page for a particular slide.

3. Utilize graphics or even a short video to help emphasize a particular concept or elaborate on an answer to a question.

4. Are the slides logically organized?

5. Are proper grammar rules, punctuation, spelling, and sentence construction used?

6. Do the slides support, amplify, and clarify your answers?

7. Do the slides represent correct information?

8. Is the presentation visually attractive?

9. Do the slides have a common font, theme, etc.?

10. Does the PowerPoint deck contain an agenda slide, overview, or objectives slide?

11. Does the PowerPoint deck have a summary slide?

12. Please include a cover page that includes the team name, assignment name, date, and individual names of team members.

13. Please use proper citations on the appropriate slides when necessary. Do not plagiarize.

14. Points will be deducted for not following formatting directions and not answering all assignment questions.

V. Assignment Questions:

Note: The instructor reserves the right to change the points for this assignment and these questions at his discretion. Points shown below are only approximate and may change.

Please answer the following questions in your presentation:

Note: Question 1 through Question 5 pertains to WM after the E&B Marine acquisition.

Question 1: Please draw a schematic diagram of the West Marine supply chain. This diagram would fit somewhere between a process flow diagram and a value stream map. (20 total points)

· Based upon the information in the case only, add all the information to the diagram that you would think a responsible supply chain manager would require using this diagram to help him/her analyze this supply chain. (For example number of sku's, inventory safety stock, etc.)

· Utilizing the notes section of the slide, list the three most important bits of information (not mentioned in Part 1 above) you think would be beneficial to assist a supply chain manager in evaluating this supply chain. So, what information is missing from the case that you would like to know so that you could analyze the case more fully? This situation happens all the time in industry!

· Briefly (and the key word is briefly) explain why you would need this information from Part 2 of the question.

· How might you actually obtain the information in Part 3?

Question 2: List and explain the primary dangers of executing an acquisition when the company does not have a solid supply chain foundation? Utilize the point in time just after the E&B acquisition. (20 total points)

· Sometimes when you are inside a company it is difficult to see the forest for the trees--always fighting today’s battles! Therefore, for this question place yourself in the position of a consultant with 100% complete access to West Marine via the case.

· The intent of this question is for you to probe the case for the strategic dangers that lurk in the absence of a solid supply chain infrastructure

· An average response will identify at least two dangers. A top-level response will identify four. Do not exceed four! I am not looking for extensive lists---I am looking for depth and breadth.

Question 3: What supply chain improvements were necessary for WM to turnaround its supply chain performance? (20 total points)

· The intent of this question is for you to probe the case for the most important underlying causes of the problems that WM must address. You must define the problem before you can solve the problem!

· An average response will identify at least two improvements. A top-level response will identify four. Do not exceed four! I am not looking for extensive lists---I am looking for depth and breadth.

· Also, be sure to explain or make an argument justifying why your solution solves an existing problem.

Question 4: Why is CPFR important? How did CPFR help WM address its supply chain challenges? (20 total points)

· This question consists of two parts: Why and How!

· Be specific and freely use examples from the case when responding to this question! The lack of examples from the case is a typical area where students lose points.

Question 5: For WM what are the two most important ingredients needed to achieve “break through supply chain performance” utilizing CPFR? (20 total points)

· Be specific and use examples from the case when responding to this question! The lack of examples from the case is a typical area where students lose points.

Question 6: Is WM ready for the Boat U.S. acquisition….yes or no? What are its primary supply chain risks--especially as it relates to CPFR? What should the top priorities be in integrating the two organizations? Explain your reasoning and how it might tie back into previous modules. (20 total points)

· For this set of questions, be certain that you focus on the Boat U.S. acquisition!

· An average response will identify at least two items. A top-level response will identify four. Do not exceed four! I am not looking for extensive lists---I am looking for depth and breadth.

VI. Grading Criteria: West Marine PowerPoint Presentation Assignment:

(The instructor reserves the right to change the grading criteria for this assignment without notice.)

PowerPoint presentations are another communication device that stresses organizing thoughts in the appropriate hierarchy and sequence, selecting words for their power and expressiveness, using technical terms in appropriate contexts, and representing complex data and symbols precisely in prose.

Analysis:

1. Does the PowerPoint deck answer each of the questions?

2. Does each answer to a question contain analysis of the major issues?

3. Does the analysis for each question incorporate concepts/techniques from all readings (including previous modules)?

4. Does the analysis show relationships among important factors?

5. Are assumptions explicitly stated?

6. Does the analysis isolate fundamental causes of the problems?

7. Does the analysis contain enough detail to support your answers?

8. When the analysis is undertaken, does it use the information at its disposal correctly, thereby leading to correct answers?

9. Does the presentation utilize the information and apply it to today’s business environment?

Quality of Professional PowerPoint Slides:

1. Are the slides logically organized?

2. Are proper rules of grammar, punctuation, spelling, sentence construction, etc. are used?

3. Is the presentation concise and succinct—length 17 to 20 slides?

4. Do the PowerPoint slides support, amplify and clarify your answers?

5. Do the PowerPoint slides represent correct information?

6. Is the presentation visually attractive?

7. Was the Notes section in the PowerPoint utilized to add depth to the presentation?

8. Do the PowerPoint slides have a common font, theme, etc.?

9. Does the PowerPoint deck contain an agenda slide, overview, or objectives slide?

10. Does the PowerPoint deck contain a schematic of the supply chain that is under analysis?

11. Does the PowerPoint deck have a summary slide? Does it point out “next steps?”

12. Do the PowerPoint slides have graphics, a short video, etc. that help to emphasize particular points? You must explain in the Notes section how this clip adds to your answer.