TASK: DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT.
SUBMITTED TO: MR.PATRICK MWANGANGI ABSTRACT
Supply chain management information system (SCM IS) plays an increasing critical role in the ability of firms to reduce costs and increase the responsiveness of their supply chain. This paper focuses on: supply chain management information systems, initial research model and theoretical foundations, internal integration ,external integration ,strategic information systems contribution to supply chain integration in line with: transaction execution, collaboration and coordination and decision support and finally E-commerce technology contribution to procurement functions. ABREVIATIONS
ASP: Advanced Planning Scheduling
BACS: Bankers Automated Clearing Services
EDI: Electronic Data Interchange
EFT: Electronic Fund Transfer
E-POS: Electronic Point Of Sale
IT: Information Technology
SCM IS: Supply Chain Management Information Systems.
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The present business environment is increasing competitive and both researchers and practitioners are constantly engaged in proposing ways to thrive in the environment. There are many different measures business have engaged in and many others being proposed to survive in the volatile business environment. For example, Doz and Kosonen (2008) suggested openness to new evidence, flexibility, readiness to access past choices and willingness to change course in relation to new developments as necessary factors I the current environment. In addition, collaboration with different partners, such as, suppliers, customers, competitors, universities, consultants and formulation of supply chains (SC) are such examples of measures to respond to the environment pressures. A supply chain is a group of companies which collaborate to achieve mutually agreed goals