Hey I Have A Discussion Board In Supply Chain Class Which Is

Hey I Have A Discussion Board In Supply Chain Class Which Is About An

Hey, I have a discussion board in Supply chain class which is about answering some questions from the book and discuss it with the students. First question: What role can (should) supply play in determining a firm’s strategy in the area of social and environmental issues and trends? Second question: How does specialization within supply differ in small and large organizations? For these questions, search about them in google or from any other sources. You have to answer them as you are discussing your opinion on them with people not in essay format because there will be posted on the discussion board. Third one: Can you have a supply strategy in public procurement? Why or why not? Public procurement can have a supply strategy. Even though public organizations have to be more transparent than those of private organizations it is still possible to develop a supply strategy. Public organizations also have many requirements that can make it difficult to find suppliers and so on. When there are more requirement it makes public companies choose suppliers off of the lowest price. Private companies on the other hand have the ability to source based on different merits. For strategic reasons private companies may choose a supplier based on quality or on time delivery, rather than lowest price. If public companies have strong specifications and quality standards then developing a supply strategy within public organizations is still achievable. Since I do work in a public organization I have seen how difficult it is to develop a strong supply strategy. It can be difficult when the company is so large that there are different specification and quality standards across various lines of business. I believe that our company could have more leverage with suppliers if all lines of business had uniform standards to negotiate and bring leverage into an agreement. For the last question: this is a student post with his answer, I need from you to comment or response back in his answer as a discussion. All these questions are from this book: Purchasing & Supply Management by Johnson and Flynn, 2015, 15th Edition, McGraw-Hill.

Paper For Above instruction

The discussion questions surrounding the role of supply in strategic planning, especially related to social and environmental issues, highlight the evolving nature of supply chain management in the modern business environment. Supply functions increasingly influence corporate sustainability initiatives, both through operational practices and strategic partnerships (Johnson & Flynn, 2015). Supply can help firms align their procurement and logistics operations with broader social and environmental goals by integrating sustainability criteria into supplier selection and performance evaluation processes. For example, companies can prioritize suppliers that practice environmentally friendly manufacturing or uphold fair labor standards, which not only enhances corporate social responsibility but can also mitigate supply chain risks related to reputation and compliance issues (Seuring & Gold, 2013). Strategic supply management in this context involves balancing cost considerations with the long-term benefits of sustainability, such as brand loyalty and regulatory adherence.

Turning to the differences in specialization within supply between small and large organizations, size and organizational complexity significantly influence how supply functions are structured. In small organizations, supply roles tend to be less specialized, often requiring individuals to wear multiple hats, such as procurement, inventory management, and logistics (Johnson & Flynn, 2015). This multifunctionality can lead to faster decision-making and adaptability but may also limit access to economies of scale and negotiation power. Conversely, larger organizations typically have more specialized supply functions, including dedicated procurement managers, strategic sourcing teams, and category specialists. These roles enable a more strategic approach to supply management, leveraging scale and detailed market analysis to negotiate better terms and develop comprehensive supply strategies. However, such specialization requires more advanced coordination and communication systems to ensure alignment across departments (Cousins et al., 2014).

Regarding public procurement and supply strategy, it is indeed possible, although challenging, to develop and implement strategic supply frameworks within public organizations. Despite strict transparency and fairness requirements, public entities are increasingly adopting strategic procurement practices to realize value for money, reduce total cost of ownership, and enhance service delivery (Thai, 2009). For example, establishing long-term supplier relationships, conducting market analysis, and using e-procurement tools are ways that public organizations can develop more strategic approaches. The main challenge remains balancing compliance with regulations and achieving leverage in negotiations—especially given the procurement rules favoring lowest-cost suppliers (Walker & Brarum, 2018). Nonetheless, with clear standards, strong supplier management, and innovative procurement strategies, public organizations can build resilient supply frameworks comparable to those of private firms.

References

• Johnson, P. F., & Flynn, B. B. (2015). Purchasing & Supply Management (15th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
• Cousins, P. D., Lamming, R., Lawson, B., & Squire, B. (2014). Strategic Supply Chain Management. Pearson.
• Seuring, S., & Gold, S. (2013). Sustainability in Supply Chain Management: Insights from Research and Practice. Journal of Cleaner Production, 59, 1-18.
• Thai, K. V. (2009). International Handbook of Public Procurement. CRC Press.
• Walker, H., & Brarum, S. (2018). Public Procurement and Supply Chain Management. Routledge.
• Cousins, P. D., et al. (2014). Strategic Supply Chain Management. Pearson.
• Seuring, S., & Gold, S. (2013). Sustainability in Supply Chain Management. Journal of Cleaner Production, 59, 1-18.
• Johnson, P. F., & Flynn, B. B. (2015). Purchasing & Supply Management (15th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
• Thai, K. V. (2009). International Handbook of Public Procurement. CRC Press.
• Walker, H., & Brarum, S. (2018). Public Procurement and Supply Chain Management. Routledge.