Supply Chain Management

SCM 800

Individual Assignment

Walmart Supply Chain Management Case Analysis

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: This deliverable IS an individual not a team assignment. You are on your honor. You cannot discuss the exam with any other folks except the person (if you choose one) that you will collaborate with to complete the exam. You cannot use any outside resources other than your notes, course articles, and class materials. You cannot use any outside sources including ones from the Interne including Google, AI, ChatGPT, etc. One of the biggest problems I have encountered with this assignment is plagiarism. Please cite any sources you use.

Assignment Approach:

In the spirit of West Marine Collaboration This assignment can be completed in one of two ways:

One: You can complete it yourself or

Two: You can work with up to two additional members from this class only.

If you proceed to complete it with the additional person(s), the grade you receive will be exactly the same for all individuals. You must only submit one paper showing all the work for all of the questions. If you chose to partner with another person(s) for this assignment, you still should only submit one paper.

You cannot discuss the assignment with any other folks except the person(s) (if you choose others) to collaborate with to complete the assignment. Remember my definition of collaboration. You must do your own work! You cannot review/use any additional information except what we have used in class! This item also means you cannot use the Internet for information…no research is required.

Assignment Document: This document includes the following assignment information:

Assignment Goal
Assignment Introduction
Assignment Directions
Assignment Deliverables
Assignment Formatting
Assignment Grading Criteria and Rubric
Assignment Questions
Cover Page and Academic Integrity Pledge Statement

ASSIGNMENT GOAL: This case assignment is designed to illustrate the concepts explored and studied during this semester in SCM 800. It will also help students evaluate various supply chain concepts employed by Walmart.

ASSIGNMENT INTRODUCTION: This case assignment is designed to help students evaluate the use of various supply chain concepts that help improve the broader strategic goals of a firm. According to the author the case

“provides a detailed description of the company’s supply chain network and capabilities. Data in the case allows students to compare Walmart’s source of competitiveness with those retailers both online, including Amazon.com and traditional brick-and mortar retailers….”

The case is set in 2019, before Covid-19. The assignment will ask you to get behind the case discussion and assess the challenges that the CEO and the company face. It is a wonderful case to help explore a large well-known firm with a global supply chain. By understanding its supply chain and the concepts presented this semester you will be in a better position to improve the outcome of these decisions.

ASSIGNMENT DIRECTIONS: You are to answer all of the assignment questions. Please make sure that you provide professional well-reasoned responses to the questions. Just giving an unsubstantiated or limited answer without explanation on how it might tie to supply chain concepts taught in the course may reduce the credit you receive. Make strong arguments to underpin your thoughts and liberally utilize examples. We are looking for critical thinking and synthesis of ideas.

ASSIGNMENT DELIVERABLES: This individual assignment should be submitted by the due date provided on the course schedule to the M6L3 Dropbox: Walmart Case Assignment. The M6L3 Dropbox is located under the Module link on the Course Menu.

The following assignment questions address the decisions faced by the Walmart Company presented in “Walmart: Supply Chain Management” by Ken Moss under the supervision of Professor P. Fraser Johnson.

ASSIGNMENT FORMATTING:

1. Please include a cover page that includes your name(s), email address(es), assignment name, and date.

2. Please use an 8.5 by 11 portrait type document for this assignment.

3. Maximum of four pages, single-spaced (not smaller than 11-point font)

3. Please use a Word Document format for the text of the answers in the four-page document (NO PDF or Excel files).

4. Please use citations as necessary--do not plagiarize. They can be listed on a separate page and NOT included in the page count.

5. Points will be deducted for not following formatting directions!

ASSIGNMENT GRADING CRITERIA: This assignment will be assessed with 33.33 points per each question.

Professional writing skills, including appropriate but not limited to proper grammar, punctuation etc. is required. Multiple errors will cause points to be deducted.

We realize that many different answers can be utilized for these questions. For each question we are expecting well thought out, rational responses using information gleaned from the semester, cited, and using examples to help articulate a particular point of view.

Note: The instructor reserves the right to change the points for this rubric at his discretion. Points shown in the rubric are only approximate and may change.

ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS: Please answer the following questions in your written report:

Question 1. Were the company’s supply chain capabilities a source of competitive advantage?

1. 1. Why or Why Not?
  2. Explain: Use examples to help support your answer!

Question 2. What is the single biggest supply chain challenge facing Walmart?

1. 1. Single biggest SC challenge?
  2. What are the implications for its supply chain?

Question 3. If you were Doug McMillon (President and CEO)

1. 1. What one major step would you take to improve the company’s supply chain?
  2. Why? Explain!
  3. Utilize examples to help support your recommendation.

SCROLL DOWN FOR COVER PAGE AND PLEDGE SHEET

SCM 800 Cover Page

Walmart Case

Score: ______ /100 Date Submitted: ______________

First Name: ______________________

First Email: ______________________

Second Name: ____________________

Second Email: ____________________

Third Name: ______________________

Third Email: ______________________

PLEASE SIGN THE FOLLOWING PLEDGE! If it is not signed, you will not be given a grade!

I, ____________________________________________ <Your Name>, affirm that I have neither given, received, nor witnessed unauthorized aid on this assignment and have completed this work honestly and according to the professor’s guidelines and the Smeal Honor Code!