Dells Value Chain Essays

Dells Value Chain Essays Dells Value Chain Paper Dells Value Chain Paper Dell’s Value Chain 1. How has Dell used its direct sales and build-to-order model to develop an exceptional supply chain? Dell has used its direct sales and build-to-order model to develop an exceptional supply chain by taking customer feedback very seriously. Dell uses the feedback to further evaluate and when necessary, implement change to improve their supply chain. The company maintains close-knit relationships with customers, and maintains very close, professional relations with their suppliers. Dell collects a larger amount of customer information than is the industry norm. This also works to the companys advantage. The close-knit relationships with customers that Dell maintains allow the company to determine what products must be supplied, and how quickly they must be supplied. By doing so, Dell is able to maintain a continuously low level of inventory, while ensuring that customer demand is adequately satisfied. Dell also has used a different approach than the norm in their supply chain management. Dells strategy is to integrate every single process, from the very beginning, to the very end, without any other interference. Through strategic planning, Dell discovers exactly what it is that customers want. With the information, further research and development is implemented by the company. The company then begins strategically marketing the highest target groups for their products, before product release. Information is then automatically released to suppliers, who can in-turn develop demand projections for the marketed Dell products. This entire system is accomplished in a relatively short span of time, which adds to the exceptional supply chain in force at Dell. 2. How has Dell exploited the direct sales model to improve operations performance? The main way that Dell has exploited the direct sales model to improve operations performance is by establishing an e-commerce model accomplished directly through the Internet. By utilizing the e-commerce model, it allows Dell to bring their products directly to the consumer in a very short time span. Consumers can order their products directly from Dells website, with delivery expected in a matter of a few days. Furthermore, customers can hand-design their own Dell computer system with a handful of mouse clicks. By making this possible to the consumer, the consumer gets exactly the product that they want, designed and loaded with the exact requirements specific to each individual consumer. This allows Dell to maintain very low levels of inventory. The e-commerce model allows Dell to attract thousands of businesses, which encourages bulk ordering of Dells products. Through the e-commerce strategy, Dell also has customized supplier information. Dells suppliers can log-on to view immediate information regarding the current and waiting orders that Dell has, which allows the suppliers to know the exact supply needs of the company, at any given moment. 3. What are the main disadvantages of Dells direct sales model? The main disadvantage of Dells direct sales model is the high cost of shipping Dell products. The computers are shipped directly from the Dell factories, to consumers and businesses worldwide. Because no intermediary is used, the company cannot take advantage of any form of economies of scale, by shipping quantities of products to various destinations. Another main disadvantage is that because Dell handles the transaction from the very beginning to the very end with no other direct company involvement, Dell must also handle all aspects of the transaction, including providing all customer support from beginning to end. Dell must assume all costs that would normally be handled by a retailer or other intermediary, who ships bulk orders to stores for retail. Due to these reasons, Dell experiences an advantage in increased sales from the e-commerce model, but is at a disadvantage by having to bear the full amount of all support related expenses. 4. How does Dell compete with a retailer who already has a stock? Dell competes with a retailer who already has a stock by higher profit margins. The greatest advantage Dell experiences are the direct elimination of all retail and distribution costs for their products. Because Dell does not have to operate multiple locations, warehouses, etc, they can offer their products at lower prices, which attract even more consumers. Dell does not have the same high fixed expenses that their competitors have, who operate multiple factory locations. Dell also competes with retailers who already have a stock by doing just the opposite not carrying a stock. When a consumer wants a particular model of computer, the retailer must have the item in stock. When a customer shops at Dell, the customer designs exactly what they want. A customer can design a very basic, bare-bones model, or a model that includes almost limitless options. The computer is then built in a matter of hours. The customer has his or her own, custom-designed system in a matter of a few days. There is no waiting for out-of-stock products, and Dell holds minimal inventory by utilizing such a well-designed system. 5. How does Dells supply chain deal with the bullwhip effect? The Bullwhip Effect in itself is a situation whereby the variation in orders is heightened as it gradually moves up the supply chain through a specific process. The process moves from consumer to distribution, and then moves to suppliers. To deal with the Bullwhip Effect, Dell is open with sharing knowledge with their suppliers. They hold long-term, intimate relationships with their suppliers, who in-turn can cater to the very specific needs of Dell. Dell also deals with the Bullwhip Effect by keeping constant, vigil watch on demand for their products. Carefully planned management is vital in Dell figuring out the exact demand at any given moment. Dell has accomplished this by constructing web pages for their suppliers to log on to, to give the supplier immediate knowledge regarding current demand (orders). The suppliers then immediately know what the demand is for the components that they supply to Dell for their systems. Suppliers can also see from the web pages how much stock Dell has on-hand of the supplied components at any given moment, giving the suppliers an advantage so as to know what immediate steps need to be taken based on current demand levels. By using such a real-time process, there is no build-up, nor any stagnation of supplies or components, from Dell suppliers. Dells use of this system has virtually eliminated the Bullwhip Effect.

45 Synonyms for Road

45 Synonyms for Road 45 Synonyms for â€Å"Road† 45 Synonyms for â€Å"Road† By Mark Nichol This post lists synonyms for road and specific terms for various types of roads. It excludes words primarily of use in British English or in other languages, as well as other senses of the terms. 1. alley: a narrow street, especially one providing access to the rear of buildings or lots between blocks 2. alleyway: see alley 3. arterial: a through street or highway 4. artery: a major road 5. avenue: a road or street 6. backstreet: a street set off from a main street 7. beltway: a highway passing around an urban area 8. boulevard: a wide road, often divided and/or landscaped 9. branch: a side road 10. bypass: a road passing around a town 11. bystreet: see backstreet 12. byway: see backstreet 13. causeway: a highway, especially one raised across water or wet ground 14. circle: a curving street, especially one intersecting at both ends on another street 15. close: a road closed at one end 16. corniche: a coastal road, especially alongside a cliff face 17. corridor: a local or regional route in the Appalachian region of the United States 18. crossroad: a road that crosses a main road or runs between main roads 19. court: a road closed at one end, especially with a circular end 20. cul-de-sac: see court 21. dead end: a road closed at one end 22. drag: slang pertaining to a road often traveled on as a leisurely pastime (or, as â€Å"main drag,† slang referring to the principal road, or one of the principal roads, in a city or town) 23. drive: a public road 24. expressway: a high-speed divided highway with partially or fully controlled access 25. freeway: an expressway with fully controlled access 26. highway: a main road 27. interstate: an expressway that traverses more than one state 28. lane: a road, often narrow (also refers to the portion of a road set apart for a single line of vehicles) 29. Main Street: the principal street of a town 30. parkway: a landscaped road 31. pike: see turnpike 32. place: a short street 33. route: see highway 34. row: a designation sometimes given to roads in place of road, drive, etc. 35. secondary road: a road subordinate to a main road 36. shunpike: a side road used to avoid a main road or a toll road 37. side road: a road that intersects with a main road 38. side street: see â€Å"side road† 39. street: a road within a city or town 40. superhighway: an expressway for high-speed traffic 41. thoroughfare: a main road, or a road that intersects with more than one other road 42. through street: see thoroughfare 43. throughway: see expressway 44. turnpike: a main road, especially one on which tolls are or were collected 45. way: a designation sometimes given to roads in place of road, drive, etc. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to use "on" and when to use "in"Yay, Hooray, Woo-hoo and Other AcclamationsLetter Writing 101

Motivation Bhutanese Employees in the Hotel Industry Case Study

Motivation Bhutanese Employees in the Hotel Industry - Case Study Example To lose such an employee at any stage of the production process is suicidal for the organisation. Specific emphasis is therefore taken into account to make sure that such employees are kept for as long as they are required. The hotel industry is very challenging in nature. Research indicates that for employees in this sector to perform their best, they need to be highly motivated. (Armstrong, 2006) There are various factors that motivate Bhutanese employees to be productive in the hotel industry. They include financial rewards that are given to these employees who are in the hotel industry. This includes hospital insurance, annual leave etc. All these have played a great role in motivating the Bhutanese employees. Due to these factors, Bhutanese employees in the hotel industry have been greatly motivated. Workers need to be compensated for their performance in order to encourage them to keep up or improve on that performance. The moment the human resource establishes the performance of the worker, managers should reward to commensurate with the worker's achievement. These will ensure maximum production and effectiveness of the worker; current compensation programs that motivate Bhutanese employees in the hotel industry include mix of basic pay, equities and variable pay. (Beardwell, 1997) Among the factors that have motivated frontline Bhutanese employees to be productive in the hotel industry is good working environment. The employers in this industry have ensured that Bhutanese employees get good working environment. This is through ensuring that all the required facilities are available. The employers have ensured that the frontline Bhutanese employees have protective clothing when working. The employers have ensured that there is a good working environment for the frontline Bhutanese employees in hotel industry. (Cole, 1995) Human capital need to be motivated in order for the company to get the best out of them. An employee who is well motivated will easily stay in the organization and be more productive. For this to occur human resource have to attend to the financial and psychological needs of the workers by rewarding them well. Basic financial remunerations and working conditions are normally stated by the government or workers union. (Geen, 1995) There are various types of reward systems that are used in organizations. They may be as