Question:

"The greatest challenge in working with suppliers is getting them in sync with the fast pace we have to maintain. The key to making it work is information.

~Michael Dell

Dell Computer

A business that makes nothing but money is a poor kind of business.

~Henry Ford

Content: Supply chain executives have a daunting daily challenge managing a global supply chain. They must keep customers or stores properly stocked and deliver the perfect order every time. They must balance the need for low costs, proper inventory levels and maximum service. They must ensure that supply chain management is an integral component of the company''s strategic direction and plan to create and maintain competitive advantage.

In reality, there are supply chains within each supply chain. Each supply chain is really a series of buyers and sellers of products and services. That means that each link participant has his own objectives, and sometimes these are conflicting objectives that can work against supply chain effectiveness.

Write a popular press article for a magazine that focuses on developing a working supply chain process for a small business, both for the entire chain and for each link in the chain. In other words, from your research, present specific advice, principles, key points, elements, objectives, etc., as to how companies can participate in the supply chain for their own objectives without creating conflict for those with whom they have to interact and work.

You are strongly encouraged to research, interview, and share in descriptive storytelling style the details of how you would make a supply chain work. To the extent possible, you can use your own business product/service as an example when discussing specific supply chain links.

For this assignment, you will submit (1) the article you write written in the format as specified by the writer''s guidelines (aka author guidelines) of the publication you choose, and (2) a copy of (or link to) the writer''s guidelines. Your article will be scored/graded against the publication''s writer''s guidelines.

Format: Choose a publication and follow the writer's/author's guidelines for style, format, length, etc. and send the guidelines to the professor along with your article. E-zines do not count as a target publication for this assignment! It must be a genuine publication, but it can be an industry publication. The method you use for footnotes is up to you, or should follow the writer's guidelines you may be following if you intend to get this article published."