Running head: CURRENT SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 1
Current Supply Chain Management
Shuqi Li
Liberty University
BUSI-613
March 1, 2021
CURRENT SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 2
Current Supply Chain Management
Introduction
Social media can be used in supply chain management activities to ensure trading
partners grow and build relationships. The supply chain partners gather knowledge and
information, providing insights into competition and supply chain (Tajudeen, Jaafar, & Ainin,
2018). Social media's tasks include creating knowledge networks, disseminating and gathering
information, and enhancing coordination. The social media applicable in supply chain
management include Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. I would approve social media use based
on its effectiveness or benefits in enhancing communication, reducing operating costs, enhancing
market intelligence, and increasing the supply chain's productivity.
Background of the Situation
Competition for many businesses is high, meaning that companies need to devise ways to
thrive, optimize productivity and increase efficiencies. Supply chain management is often
overlooked by many companies but has a high potential of ensuring a company attains its set
objectives. The procurement officer proposed incorporating social media in supply chain
management to ensure that it connects with the supply chain partners. Social networking is
critical as it helps disseminate information, saves time, increases productivity, and allows
efficient management of the supply chain. Incorporating social media ensures that the company
increases collaboration and allows transparent conversations with the supply chain partners. The
company can also improve relationships, share knowledge and data, monitor progress, and track
logistical updates across its suppliers' network (Govindan, Cheng, Mishra, & Shukla, 2018).
Social media denotes that the company can increase the supply chain's visibility by using sites
CURRENT SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 3
such as Sourcemap. The social platforms allow the company to access information about the
supply chain, allowing tracking a product's origin and connecting with the relevant supplier. As a
result, social media can increase control and transparency. Finally, the procurement staff
proposition revolved around the need to source new talents through social media. Social media
platforms such as LinkedIn plays a critical role in accessing millions of suppliers showing that it
is vital in the procurement process. The company can identify the experience and skills they want
from a new partner determining the right firm suitable for the business activities.
Potential Consequences/Alternative Responses
The potential consequence regarding the situation is implementing the use of social
media in supply chain management activities. The implementation of social media is informed
by the benefits realized, such as capturing information concerning supply chain events,
monitoring the supply chain events, and ensuring that all the suppliers have relevant information.
Social media can be implemented to enhance supply planning and supply management. The
implementation of social media can also be achieved due to the need to improve collaboration,
improve schedules, and make a real-time plan. The stakeholders can contact one another,
enhance decision-making, and attain transparency (Tajudeen, Jaafar, & Ainin, 2018). The
company is likely to implement social media to ensure that the supply chain generates more
profits following low labor and operational costs and customer satisfaction. Alternative responses
include the use of emails and phone calls to coordinate the supply chain and disseminate
information. Emails and phone calls have been in use by companies for the management of the
supply chain. They are reliable as they allow a company to coordinate supply chain partners from
diverse places. Phone calls, in particular, play a critical role in communicating with the supply
chain partners, and schedules can be sent through emails.
CURRENT SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 4
Proposed Response
The proposed response regarding implementing social media in supply chain
management is based on its benefits. Social media have proven indispensable in the modern
business world as it connects companies with their trading partners from different places.
Adopting social media ensures real-time communication with the trading partners leading to
various benefits. First, implementing social media helps create knowledge networks as the
company can capture and respond to clients' feedback using platforms such as Twitter and
Facebook. The supply chain can also give real-time feedback both externally (contractors and
suppliers) and internally (procurement departments, warehousing, and inventory) (Choi, 2018).
Second, social media ensures effective decision-making as it provides for contemplation and
speed. Social media allows quick delivery of written, video, or audio communication within the
supply chain. The supply chain partners can consider the information for informed decision-
making. Third, social media enhances information portability, and the trading partners can access
information instantaneously. Social media also offers people platforms to articulate issues
affecting the supply chain activities. Finally, social media should be implemented as it allows the
engagement of suppliers. Engaging suppliers is critical as it stimulates supply-chain innovation.
Conclusion
Companies in the modern business world incorporate innovative ways to use modern
technologies to increase efficiencies, streamline operations and optimize productivity for
competitive advantages. Companies focus on improving efficiencies in different areas, including
supply chain management. As a result, the company should implement social media in the supply
chain activities to reduce labor and operational costs, improve communication, increase control,
and create more visibility within the supply chain.
CURRENT SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 5
References
Choi, T. M. (2018). Incorporating social media observations and bounded rationality into fashion
quick response supply chains in the big data era. Transportation Research Part E:
Logistics and Transportation Review, 114, 386-397.
Govindan, K., Cheng, T. E., Mishra, N., & Shukla, N. (2018). Big data analytics and application
for logistics and supply chain management.
Tajudeen, F. P., Jaafar, N. I., & Ainin, S. (2018). Understanding the impact of social media usage
among organizations. Information & Management, 55(3), 308-321.
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