Additional Guidance from the Instructor
We discussed some of the ways companies are meeting sustainability needs. Here are four types of partnerships in common use today. See if you can incorporate these relationships into your discussion response on key supplier-management approaches.
Basic: Involves treating the supplier with a basic level of trust and honest communication. Tactical and short term (Hartley, 2016, p 207).
Operational: supplier performs a service or supplies a product as a matter of routine or as part of the transaction flow of business, not as an additional commitment. May be joint problem solving, but there are no ongoing cross organizational teams (Hartley, 2016, p 207).
Business: Supply management organization wants the supplier to provide some unique or specialized product or service. Increased recognition of mutual dependence exists. Supplier may invest in additional assets, specialized personnel, or technology. Extended period of time, but not considered strategic (Hartley, 2016, p 207).
Strategic: involves goods or services that are of strategic importance to the success of the buying organization. Requires sharing long term strategies and the parties must agree on the risks and rewards of such a relationship and how these risks and rewards will be shared. Uses ongoing joint cross organizational teams and top management support. Contact and visibility are mainstays (Hartley, 2016, p 207).
Week 5 – Discussion 1
Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates. Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and the depth of your responses. Refer to the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric under the Settings icon above for guidance on how your discussion will be evaluated.
Inputs [WLO: 1] [CLO: 4]
Prior to beginning work on this discussion, read Chapter 10, Chapter 13, and the lecture for Week 5.
Illustrate ways managers can work with process inputs and suppliers to improve performance.
Week 5 – Discussion 2
Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates. Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and the depth of your responses. Refer to the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric under the Settings icon above for guidance on how your discussion will be evaluated.
Suppliers [WLO: 1] [CLO: 4]
Prior to beginning work on this discussion, review Chapter 10, Chapter 13, and the lecture for Week 5.
Assess key supplier-management approaches. What are their strengths and weaknesses?
