Question 1

Each process or element of the supply chain is an important strategic resource and a corporate asset.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

The components of a corporate mission statement or a supply chain mission statement will be similar.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

In surveys published by the Society for Human Resources Management and Monster.com, both groups reported that employee turnover during the first two years is very high and could be as much as 50 percent.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

There are many reasons why an organization may want to utilize a 4PL. All of the following are reasons to use a 4PL except for:

Accepted Answer

A)  Companies often lack the ability to generate substantive supply chain performance improvement on their own. 
B)  Global expansion into new markets. 
C)  Global growth with more inventory in more places. 
D)  Need and demand for IT resources. 
E)  Shorter order-to-cash cycle times.

Question 5

3PLs and 4PLs differ in several ways. Which of the following is not one of the ways 3PLs and 4PLs differ?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 4PL organization is often a separate entity established as a joint venture or long-term contract between a primary client and one or more partners. 
B)  A 4PL organization acts as a single interface between the client and multiple logistics service providers. 
C)  All aspects (ideally) of the client's supply chain are managed by the 4PL. 
D)  It is possible for a major 3PL to form a 4PL organization within its existing structure. 
E)  Most 4PLs do not use technology to manage their client's supply chains.

Question 6

As an important factor in achieving supply chain management success, labor must be evaluated regularly. APICS has identified several categories of metrics that could be used to measure labor performance. Which of the following is not one of those metrics identified by APICS?

Accepted Answer

A)  Agility. 
B)  Asset management efficiency. 
C)  Perfect order rate. 
D)  Reliability. 
E)  Responsiveness.

Question 7

Good structures facilitate the implementation of supply chain networks; they do not guarantee success.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of the following would not be a viable approach to obtain maximum people involvement in supply chain management?

Accepted Answer

A)  Encouraging employees through various activities and programs. 
B)  Providing the necessary tools and materials for employees to do their jobs. 
C)  Providing recognition programs that involve nonfinancial rewards. 
D)  Taking a "hands off" approach to communicating and managing employees. 
E)  Training and cross-training of employees.

Question 9

In the context of collaboration and integration through technology, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Instead of purchasing the hardware and software to operate and manage their supply chains, cloud computing allows firms to access the technologies they need through the Internet. 
B)  Information technology (IT) advances have had many benefits, but they have not been able to provide firms with sustainable advantages in cost control and/or customer satisfaction levels. 
C)  Many organizations today still have not yet developed systems that allow for better collaboration, visibility, and integrations within their supply chains. 
D)  The use of cloud computing is invaluable when firms are dealing with many suppliers or vendors, because each organization can communicate through the "cloud." 
E)  Three of the most significant technologies that will impact supply chain management are mobile computing devices, analytics software, and social media.

Question 10

Which of the following factors would not likely contribute to organizational effectiveness in a supply chain?

Accepted Answer

A)  Employee characteristics. 
B)  Environmental characteristics. 
C)  Managerial policies and practices. 
D)  Marketing and sales characteristics. 
E)  Organizational characteristics.

Question 11

There are two types of keiretsu's: horizontal and vertical. The horizontal keiretsu consists of a large manufacturing company surrounded by numerous small and subservient suppliers and distributors that keep the operations running smoothly, while the vertical keiretsu consists of a group of interlocking companies, typically clustered about a lead manufacturer, a main bank, and a trading company, and overseen by a presidents' council consisting of the presidents of the major group companies.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Agile organizations typically can be identified by five trademarks, which include all of the following except for:

Accepted Answer

A)  Finances. 
B)  People. 
C)  Process. 
D)  Strategy. 
E)  Structure.

Question 13

According to a study of the onboarding practices of U.S.-based companies, 75 percent of companies have a formal onboarding program.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Cloud computing is an Internet service which can be accessed by a customer's own computer, rather than having the hardware and software at the customer's location.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Decentralization, specialization, formalization, span of control, organization size, and work-unit size, would all be examples of which major factor influencing the effectiveness of a supply chain organization?

Accepted Answer

A)  Employee characteristics. 
B)  Environmental characteristics. 
C)  Managerial policies and practices. 
D)  Marketing and sales characteristics. 
E)  Organizational characteristics.

Question 16

Because supply chains involve multiple firms and a large number of individuals, collaboration is essential to successful supply chain management. This makes social networking an ideal means of enabling and enhancing collaboration.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

While recruiting skilled talent is crucial to supply chain management, many in the younger generation are not considering a career in the field. Which of the following is not a reason why many young people are avoiding careers in supply chain management?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most people don't know what logistics, transportation, or supply chain management is about. 
B)  Some parents think their sons or daughters will be driving a truck upon graduation. 
C)  The industry hasn't shown the complex, technology-based nature of today's supply chains where firms' strategy becomes reality. 
D)  General awareness of the discipline is widespread. 
E)  Defining supply chain positions can be difficult because of its boundary spanning nature.

Question 18

Which of the following is a characteristic of a workforce performance system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cost expectations related to labor budget and profit margins. 
B)  Mechanisms to indicate when performance standards are not being achieved. 
C)  Provision of corrective actions to the supply chain executive for situations where under-performance occurs. 
D)  Uniform performance standards for all tasks and subtasks. 
E)  All of these are characteristics of a workforce performance system.

Question 19

The Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp) conducts surveys of companies and has identified a number of people-related factors that are considered important by high-performance organizations. Which of the following was not identified as being an important factor?

Accepted Answer

A)  Coaching. 
B)  Employee pay. 
C)  Leadership development. 
D)  Performance management. 
E)  Talent management.

Question 20

Strategic versus operational organizational structures refer to the level at which supply chain activities are positioned within and across firms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 15: Collaboration, Cooperation and Integration in the Supply Chain

Each process or element of the supply chain is an important strategic resource and a corporate asset.

The components of a corporate mission statement or a supply chain mission statement will be similar.

In surveys published by the Society for Human Resources Management and Monster.com, both groups reported that employee turnover during the first two years is very high and could be as much as 50 percent.

There are many reasons why an organization may want to utilize a 4PL. All of the following are reasons to use a 4PL except for:

3PLs and 4PLs differ in several ways. Which of the following is not one of the ways 3PLs and 4PLs differ?

As an important factor in achieving supply chain management success, labor must be evaluated regularly. APICS has identified several categories of metrics that could be used to measure labor performance. Which of the following is not one of those metrics identified by APICS?

Good structures facilitate the implementation of supply chain networks; they do not guarantee success.

Which of the following would not be a viable approach to obtain maximum people involvement in supply chain management?

In the context of collaboration and integration through technology, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Which of the following factors would not likely contribute to organizational effectiveness in a supply chain?

Agile organizations typically can be identified by five trademarks, which include all of the following except for:

According to a study of the onboarding practices of U.S.-based companies, 75 percent of companies have a formal onboarding program.

Cloud computing is an Internet service which can be accessed by a customer's own computer, rather than having the hardware and software at the customer's location.

Decentralization, specialization, formalization, span of control, organization size, and work-unit size, would all be examples of which major factor influencing the effectiveness of a supply chain organization?

Because supply chains involve multiple firms and a large number of individuals, collaboration is essential to successful supply chain management. This makes social networking an ideal means of enabling and enhancing collaboration.

While recruiting skilled talent is crucial to supply chain management, many in the younger generation are not considering a career in the field. Which of the following is not a reason why many young people are avoiding careers in supply chain management?

Which of the following is a characteristic of a workforce performance system?

The Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp) conducts surveys of companies and has identified a number of people-related factors that are considered important by high-performance organizations. Which of the following was not identified as being an important factor?

Strategic versus operational organizational structures refer to the level at which supply chain activities are positioned within and across firms.