Seminar paper from the year 2018 in the subject Business economics - Supply, Production, Logistics, grade: 2,0, International School of Management, Campus Munich (International Management), course: Business Planning & International Operations, language: English, abstract: The following term paper provides a theoretical, as well as practical approach to assess Alpha’s complexities occurring in the supply chain. Therefore, in the first part theoretical models are used to solve issues concerning sourcing and supply chain management. Later in the term paper the theoretical adjustments and improvements are combined with a linear programming approach, to create a more practical approach. Alpha is an internationally operating company and so is their supply chain. The firm contains of two manufacturing locations, one in Germany and one in India. The German plant mainly manufactures products for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Simultaneously, Alpha’s Indian production location serves the Asian market. In order to get a tighter connection to their customers and achieve higher margins, Alpha recently dismissed all their intermediate dealers. This strategical adjustment provides them with the opportunity to bring their company closer to the customer and to achieve a deeper insight about their behaviors and needs, by simultaneously accomplishing some financial benefits.

Most successful companies have operations management at their heart. It enables strategy and should be part of boardroom discussions. However, Cranfield research has shown that business strategy barely recognises the world of operations management. Recognising that operations management needs to be more strategic, Business Operations Models is a revolutionary new title that looks at the interrelationship of operations management and strategy. In Business Operations Models, Martin Christopher and Alan Braithwaite identify the characteristics of market-leading businesses that have transformed their markets and delivered super performance for their stakeholders. It points to the theory gap between strategic thinking and operations and how many high-performing businesses arrive at their new operating models as much by chance as judgement. Unpacking those observations leads to some clearly defined features of winning competitors, including eliminating waste, leveraging technology, and utilising transformative business models. Business Operations Models offers a framework for achieving super performance and understanding when and how a company may be able to leverage its capabilities to outperform. The book provides detailed international case studies that illustrate how the principles work in practice, including Apple, Dell, Amazon, John Lewis, Southwest airlines, Aldi, Toyota and many others.

International Operations Management: Lessons in Global Business uses a fascinating selection of case studies researched during the 'International Operations Management Project', sponsored by the European Commission, to produce a valuable view of businesses in Western and Eastern traditions. Ranging from China Post and Flextronics International (Singapore) to Electrolux, Ford, and GlaxoSmithKline, the studies link conceptual and practical approaches in five areas: international operations management strategy, sourcing and manufacturing, new product development, logistics, and networked organisations. Throughout, the authors compare the Western and Eastern approaches to business, and introduce theory to clarify the comparison and the real consequences of internationalisation. With its balance of theoretical and applied content, this volume, created from an exciting collaboration between universities and schools of management in Europe and China, serves as both a primary and supplementary source for higher level students and educators, and as a worthwhile read for interested practitioners.

In the world of e-business, competition takes on a new intensity. The dynamics of the online marketplace often require organizations to pursue multiple and complex strategies. The book explores the international operations concepts employed by leading organizations to secure competitive advantage.

This indispensable text offers students a high quality treatment of strategic operations management. It provides the reader with a clear understanding of the importance and nature of operations strategy by determining exactly which management activities, core competencies, resources and technologies underpin an operational strategy. The book demonstrates how various operational elements and components can be combined and customised into unique operational strategies. When these strategies are correctly implemented, they provide sustainable competitive advantage and allow firms to provide a diverse range of services and goods in their increasingly demanding, complex and dynamic marketplaces and spaces. Includes chapters covering customising operational strategies for retail, manufacturing, services and SMEs, and sections on eBusiness and complexity theory in relation to operations theory. Features include: *extended case-studies including several from Europe and the USA *case vignettes *learning objectives *key terms *chapter introduction and 'maps' to aid reader accessibility *'time out' boxes to prompt the reader to reflect on what has been learnt *'critical reflection' boxes that analyse theories and models.

While many business schools are teaching Global Operations Strategy with self-made teaching materials, there are no such textbooks. Combining practical approaches with detailed theoretical underpinnings, this book provides theories, tools, frameworks, and techniques for global operations strategy, and brings real world perspectives to students and managers. Each chapter includes definition of key terms, introduction of fundamental theories, several short case examples, one long new case to explain the associated theories, and recommended further reading.

Enterprise architecture defines a firm's needs for standardized tasks, job roles, systems, infrastructure, and data in core business processes. This book explains enterprise architecture's vital role in enabling - or constraining - the execution of business strategy. It provides frameworks, case examples, and more.