Compare Dell's supply chain and logistics innovations with the competitive responses from competitors

such as the Apple Store

Dell
It has Just-in-time manufacturing facilities, direct sales to customers, mass customization and build-to-order
manufacturing and runs assembly plants and buys every component from partner suppliers and struggles to
attain a virtual incorporation of suppliers, manufacturing and customers hence its products appeal to customer
segments that search for reasonably priced, high performance products and are classically large organizations
thus the manufacturing activities at Dell have aided in lowering costs and bringing latest technology
commodities to the customers thus the direct sales strategy has offered the organization with a feedback
mechanism that assists it predict demand trends much better and minimize the risk and the R&D at dell is
spearheaded towards process improvements and quality controls though the company cannot bring
architectural innovation and it is restricted to assisting its suppliers with improving component based
technology.
Apple store
It makes high quality, consumer-friendly commodities with high aesthetical value and targets customers who
are enthusiastic to pay a premium for the innovative goods and are looking for user experience thus its retails
stores operate as a place for offering pre-purchase experience of using the commodities hence it utilizes the
scale economies and has outsourced its manufacturing facilities thus it keeps it suppliers in tight control and
has the ability to obtain large discounts due to the volumes and despite the fact that it cannot rollout the
technological advancements in components faster in comparison to dell it has the ability and capability to form
architectural innovation and offer users with and integrated product with bundled characteristics of high
quality networking and media thus predicting is a vital facet at Apple and it can project the demand for all the
stores and sketch production schedule accordingly and the organization spends greatly on R&D to develop the
product performance and convey frequent product launches
2. The emerging supply chain and logistics management factors shown in the video that were already
negatively affecting large computer chain stores
Assuming demand-driven planning based on real-time demand imminent and demand shaping
Actually the best forecast and possibility planning equipments guarantees an entire view and an efficient
reaction to risks i.e. suppliers incurring losses, political disruption and natural disaster influencing production
thus the organization then regulate pricing and promotions strategies to outline demand
Form an adaptive supply chain with quick planning and incorporated implementation
The supply chain needs more continuous, dynamic supply chain changes to quickly respond to market
variations hence it reduces or even gets rid of shocks in the supply network which leads to:
Visibility
Improved collaboration in the value chain i.e. sourcing and supply, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing
and distribution
Fast decision-making with better analytics and support
Drive in sustainability into supply chain operations
The bottom line of individuals, profit and world some time back was no more significant as compared to it at
present thus the organization that attain social and environmental sustainability get main competitive
advantages particularly with in relation to production efficiency, supplier management skills and attractiveness
to workers
4. Ways in which market research may have helped prevent these large technology businesses from failing
What research process would be undertaken to make a recommendation on whether or not a company
should outsource their technical support service?
Market research scrutinizes the efficiency of sales, available organization practices, the quality of services and
the apparatus applied in communication and it assesses the present market competition by assessing the
organization plans of the competitors and this helps in spotting new business gaps and designing marketing
campaigns which directly target the interest of the organization's potential customers thus assisting to raise the
sales. Marketing research offers important information concerning the potential of a specific market group in a
specific period of time and within a given age group
The data that was collected
The data that would be collected in this research include:
The problem areas within the organization i.e. poor sales and marketing means, lack proper information to the
consumers or lack of awareness and less skilled personnel
The needs of the available consumers and why they chose the commodity over competitors
New business opportunities and changing market trends i.e. technological changes in the market such as the
use of online buying
New areas for expansion, and increase the customer base in the organization
Identifying potential customers and their needs that may be incorporated into the organization operations
Setting realizable targets for organization growth, sales and newest product
The costs that were calculated to make the most informed decision possible
In computing outsourcing costs there is need to involve salaries, hourly staff wages, payroll taxes, benefits,
workers' compensation and all other payroll-related expenses thus all three areas which are food cost, beverage
cost and labor costs form opportunities for losses through waste, spoilage, theft, and poor scheduling therefore
in case of a problem in any of the three areas of prime cost can be very expensive and the methods are:
Scheduling staff efficiently
There is need to review the expected tables for every service during the week and mixing the staff to make sure
at the no ending up with all rookies during one lunch rush and all veterans during a slow dinner and also have
fewer workers for set-up and takedown than during a service to lower the costs
Improving staff quality
Restaurants depend highly on repeat customers and sales of non-entrée items to increase revenues therefore
paying the smallest amount for dining room staff can result in frequent turnover and poor customer service
Performing food cost calculations
This should be the first process in controlling foods costs is to find out what they are per diner and this can be
achieved through computing the expense of every ingredient that goes into every dish and divide the total
number of diners served per month by the monthly food costs