MGT5000 Management and Organizational Behavior Research (Research Paper Sample)

MGT5000 MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
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Executive summery
Supply chain management is getting on spotlight as the determinant of whether a company will achieve its financial objectives or not. Most firms are now depending on supply chain management for sustainable growth and positioning. Supply chains should therefore be efficient, lean and capable of creating value. Competition take note of supply chain and companies should be able to create a lean system packed by advanced progressive technology. This report will explain the need to pay attention to supply chain management and how creative integration of Real Time Location System can enable a company to enjoy a market position and efficiency that can not be easily replicated by competitors. This will enable a firm to access a competitive advantage.
This paper will explore the implementation of RTLS into the activities of supply chain in a manner that will improve efficiency without incurring unnecessary cost. RTLS is highly recommended for its accuracy and flexibility. This is quite a new technology in business sector and the firs company to meaningfully integrate it with there business processes will access the supply the competitive advantage. Implication and risks associated to the technology are limited. Because they are still risks, they will given much attention to ensure that thee firm in question rip much benefit from it its positive recommendation here given.
1.0. Introduction
RTLS is an application that tracks geolocation of a target object (Bandi, 2014 p. 2). The target can be anything including people. Real-time locating system is a reliable and accurate technology that automatically sends the location of items or people to a remote place. It has had a wide range of application including health care, military training, security and lately business operations. The technology may be implemented on different platforms that include Wi-Fi, UWB and WhereNet. The platform depends on the targets to be tracked and the space area to be covered.Technology has become the primary agent of change and impetus for improving business practices in modern times. Most inventions have been inspired by need if not accidentally stumbled on. Security threats of our time, military prowess of other countries like Russia and China have for instanced made the US army to set up multi-billion military and aviation research facilities. Businesses just like nations face threats from resilient competitors. It is, therefore, imperative for a business organization to stay afloat in terms of constructive technologies. Most technologies do not have much implication of business positioning and are treated as trends that need to be lived with. Such technologies are usually available for the firm to modify the according to its capability. Some technologies are revolutionary and firms are willing to pay hefty prices for it.Mobility and wireless communication have been marked trendy and adapted by most companies. Such technologies are exciting but it is not clear how they impact the supply chain management or how such trendy invention helps the firm in positioning and improving efficiency. This report will explore technology relevant to supply chain process and potential impacts of such technology on supply chain management. There are a number of new technologies relevant to supply chain management, but close attention will be given to Real-time location systems (RTLS) in this paper.2.0. Competitive aspects of supply chain management.The supply chain is a set of companies directly linked to the downstream or upstream by one or more other companies. It enhances the flow of information and products from the source to the user. The supply chain can be viewed as all activities required of a business unit(s) satisfy customers' demands. With increased efficiency in supply chain management, firms around the world are product high quality and innovative products. The speed at which products are introduced into the market or innovated is high. This is makes products "perishable". If products take too long to reach the potential consumer, there is no guarantee that competitors will have superior products in the market. Competition has shifted from dominating factors of production and lines of distribution to targeting potential buyers with a relevant product at the right time and competitive price. Logistics contribute immensely to the cost of production and sells and, therefore, determine the price at which products will be sold. Most products with the exception of luxurious products are price sensitive. An effective and efficient supply chain will allow the firm offer products at a competitive price. To access a competitive advantage, a firm should be able adapt innovative products and supply practices that cannot be easily emulated by competitor i.e. offering a "moving target" to the competitors. The concept of moving target is not contrary to the traditions of brand marketing. While it is important to keep tradition features of q widely accepted, it is important to realize that consumers' tests and preferences are dynamic. It is possible to predict the future demand of certain target groups using technology and competitors actions. Products, product delivery services and other necessary engagement can be attached to an available relevant progressive technology.3.0. Building Blocks for incorporating RLTS into business processesEnterprise-wide coverage: clearly defining location, status and movement of objects to be tracked. RTLS has its limitations that include incapability to operate over a wide area. Unlike GPS, RTLS depend on multiple tags that should be within the proximity of the targets to be tracked. The size of an area to be covered determines the system to be used.3.1. Accuracy desired- different system designs determine the accuracy of the position of the object. Positions are two-dimensional and therefore based on approximation. The more the number of signal projection tags the clearer the exact location of an item.3. 2. Interoperability- RTLS has no forms of intelligence and should be supported by a standard-based technology that will enhance will provide location and status information to the end user. And example of such supportive technologies includes the open API (Application Programming Interface) 3.3.The cost of installation and maintenance- Businesses are profit and growth oriented. The cost of installing a new technology should be considered in line with expected returns and impact on business performance. Although RTLS is pricey that other wireless technologies that could be integrated into the company's supply chain, some hefty benefits may accrue if RTLS in procured. Objectives of the organization will also be considered to enquire if the company has intentions to run the business for a length of time that will allow the company to rip the benefits.3.4. Reducing financial risks- insurance is always available to gap the risks of uncertainty in the business venture. Since RTLS is a new phenomenon to the business community, covers may be miscalculated and may end up being extremely high due to very little number of companies covered under the same risk. When who are among the first people to employ a new technology, it is important to consider other options other than insurance covers. Such options may include partnering with companies that provide shared risks acquisition model.4.0. Benefits of RTLS technology to a businessReal time information empowers the business with high odder of intelligence. Reaction time that a firm takes to respond to occasions is shorter. This saves time and resource and can a source of competitive advantage of competitors do have such a progressive system. Decision makers access relevant information on real time. The flexibility of the RTSL technology provides for its applications in multiple areas. The benefits of RTLS technology have not been widely acknowledged to the perception that it’s expensive and no real value could attaché to it. This was because the technology had not been well demystified, and firms did not probably know where such technology could be applied. RTSL uses already existing infrastructure, and this cuts down the installation cost considerably. The fact that RTSL has been ignored for long has allowed advancement and customization before it is widely available in the market. This technology is well implemented in the right setting, will a source of competitive advantage and very likely increment of profits.5.0. Overview of implementing the technologyRTSL is the ultimate choice for today's pressure especially in the supply curve. The business model that is commonly employed is become more mobile and decentralized. RTSL is an advanced technology that is way beyond other AIDC (Automatic Identification and data Capture). It is more accurate and efficient, and cost friendly compared to other systems since it can rely on existing infrastructure.The military may have triggered demand for the RTLS by incorporating it into their practices (Q-tract, 2010) but by yet areas of application need to be identified and ensure red that integration of the system bring in some value. Eventually most firms will see that need of such system. Being the first strategically integrate a progressively interpret the technology in relevant process is a source of competitive advantage. To keep the firm at an advantage, such technology must be reviewed forward as soon as an upgrade is available this will enable the company to remain competitive and efficient. Technology may offer efficiency, speed and accuracy but the process itself should be well organized according to how the technology works. Apart from efficiencies, RTLS reduces human re...