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DB

SCA Strategy

Technology helps strategy and operations in many ways. For example, it helps reduce human error, double-checks other data, and increases the speed of a process.

Some mathematics and statistics can take hundreds of hours to complete with pencil and paper; however, with computer programming, these same problems can be run in under 4 hours. This is a significant time savings, plus much less risk at data entry error than the old school paper and pencil method.

There are still risks. You still need to ensure beginning entry data is accurate. You also need to be familiar with the methods and technology and ensure they are applied correctly. Lastly, you still do need to double-check the results.

One common use of technology related to SCA is the use of Microsoft® Excel® in the workplace.

Review  Learning Activity 5  before completing this discussion.

Please answer the following:

1. Why does it matter if a spreadsheet is aligned in a particular way, columns versus rows?

2. How much experience do you already have with Microsoft Excel? Do you have a real-world example with your career? If so, please share it with the class.

3. What functionality within Microsoft Excel would you be interested in learning more about to help your organizational supply chain?

Journal

Each week you will work on one aspect that will help you prepare for the course and reflect. This journal will provide an opportunity to capture new ideas from knowledge gained and record your thoughts throughout the course. This will also give you an opportunity to record questions you may wish to research further in preparation for other assigned work. Please remember that copying and pasting your own notes without revising is a form of self-plagiarism. After reading your textbook, you should reflect away from the text and then write fully in your own words, integrating course concepts with your own real-world experiences to demonstrate university-level knowledge.

Use three headers total, one per main prompt below. Do not list the questions; use headers to properly organize your work. A header is a short one-, two-, or three-word statement that summarizes the intent of the paragraph below it, organizing your original narrative.

Write one quality paragraph per header, addressing your reflection, based on the following question prompts:

1. What was the most interesting thing you learned this week as you explored the course concepts and activities?

2. What one thing do you plan to research further over the next week? What motivates this decision? How will you structure your further online or Library research to effectively learn what you want to learn and then apply these concepts in academics, life, or business?

3. What concept do you plan to readily apply at work in the next 2 weeks? If you are not ready, how can you still leverage these concepts via a discussion with a coworker, sharing what you have learned and plan to accomplish? What key results do you foresee with this application at work regarding your own organization’s supply chain?

DB

SCA Design

Think over the prior learning activities, reading, and other learning opportunities you have experienced from the first half of the term. Notice it has a layered approach in both methods and learning?

This is not a mistake; humans learn better with a pattern and iteration. You take something in as observation, reflect, practice, and improve. At some point, you are evaluated, either by academics or, more importantly, by the tests given via both business and life.

Whether a product, service, or from a different perspective, the design process is similar with its own layered approach, patterns, and iterations.

Please answer the following:

1. Have you ever designed something or had an idea to improve the design of something (product, service, system, or process)?

2. When was the last time your organization considered the design of something? Please take time to share this real-world experience with the class in your narrative.

3. What connections do you see with design, in general, with design within the context of the SCA model?

Journal

Each week you will work on one aspect that will help you prepare for the course and reflect. This journal will provide an opportunity to capture new ideas from knowledge gained and record your thoughts throughout the course. This will also give you an opportunity to record questions you may wish to research further in preparation for other assigned work. Please remember that copying and pasting your own notes without revising is a form of self-plagiarism. After reading your textbook, you should reflect away from the text and then write fully in your own words, integrating course concepts with your own real-world experiences to demonstrate university-level knowledge.

Use three headers total, one per main prompt below. Do not list the questions; use headers to properly organize your work. A header is a short one-, two-, or three-word statement that summarizes the intent of the paragraph below it, organizing your original narrative.

Write one quality paragraph per header, addressing your reflection, based on the following question prompts:

1. What was the most interesting thing you learned this week as you explored the course concepts and activities?

2. What one thing do you plan to research further over the next week? What motivates this decision? How will you structure your further online or Library research to effectively learn what you want to learn and then apply these concepts in academics, life, or business?

3. What concept do you plan to readily apply at work in the next 2 weeks? If you are not ready, how can you still leverage these concepts via a discussion with a coworker, sharing what you have learned and plan to accomplish? What key results do you foresee with this application at work regarding your own organization’s supply chain?

Assignment

SCA Initialization and SCA Strategy

You will be assessed based on your knowledge of the following Course Outcomes:

MT438-2: Examine data cleaning, statistical methods, and research options towards the proper use of data structures practical to data curation efforts for the supply chain.

GEL-1.02: Demonstrate college-level communication through the composition of original materials in Standard English.

From the prior weeks, you have focused on two important phases of the SCA model. In the Initialization Phase, you learned how to get stakeholders involved with a SCA effort at work. In the Strategy Phase, you learned how strategy needs to inform analysis within the supply chain and how the analysis should align with the organization's strategic goals.

Consider the following questions. Then use headers to structure your work, compose your original narrative, and use online research to strengthen weak areas of your narrative as you edit your coverage of these topics. They are as follows:

SCA Initialization

How should an organization go about properly initializing for a new supply chain analytics project? How do they properly ensure success from their choices at the very start?

SCA Strategy

How should leaders and analysts ensure alignment between the lower-level SCA strategy and the higher-level full organization strategy? How does analytics enhance strategy?

Data Cleaning and Statistical Methods

Research the topics of data cleaning and statistical methods online beyond what you have observed in the course and with your own real-world experiences. Using this detailed examination, write in your own narrative how you would use data structures and data curation methods to improve a supply chain you are either familiar with or have become familiar with from online research.

SCM Standard Requirements

· This assignment should be a separate Microsoft Word document, preferably in the most current .docx file format.

· Your paper should include a title page, be double-spaced, in Times New Roman 12-point font, contain correct citations, in Standard English with no spelling or punctuation errors, and correct references on the references page.

· In addition to the current APA style title page and reference page, ensure your paper covers the assigned topics, focusing on quality. The following items provide additional guidance as to writing expectations.

· Respond to the questions thoroughly, providing specific examples of concepts, topics, definitions, and other elements asked for in the questions. Your paper should be highly organized, logical, and focused.

· It must be written in Standard English, demonstrating exceptional content, organization, style, grammar, and mechanics.

· Your paper should provide a clearly established sustained viewpoint and purpose.

· Your writing should be well ordered, logical, and unified, as well as original and insightful.

· Ensure your paper uses current APA format for content, with properly indented paragraphs and a minimum of three full pages covering the assigned topics to appropriate depth.

· A separate page at the end of your research paper should contain a list of references in current APA format. Use your textbook, the Library, and the Internet for credible research.

· Ensure you have at a minimum three quality references supporting your work: defining words or using dictionaries, wikis, or encyclopedias, does not count as a quality reference, or meet university standards for credible online research.

· Be sure to cite both in-text and reference list citations where appropriate and reference all sources. Your sources and content should follow proper APA citation style. Review the current APA formatting and citation style found at the Writing Center. (The Writing Center can be accessed in Academic Tools. Select APA Central, then on "Write" at the bottom of the page.)

*Please note: Professors have academic freedom to modify assignments and requirements to mitigate against cheating and plagiarism and help with student learning.