How is each of the following challenges, respectively, related to Apple now and in the future? Please provide brief examples in your explanation

We examined how to achieve strategic fit for a supply chain, especially the influence of uncertainty to the system and the cost-responsivess tradeoff. It is then followed by a self-study on new challenges encountered by supply chain management (see ppt slides). In this exercise, let’s apply these concepts to a real company – Apple.

1. How is each of the following challenges, respectively, related to Apple now and in the future? Please provide brief examples in your explanation.

• Increasing product variety in the market • Shrinking product life cycle • Increasing implied demand uncertainty • Increasing globalization • Changing technology

2. What can Apple do to reduce its implied demand uncertainty? Use examples to explain if you prefer.

3. What can Apple do to maintain its strategic fit, given the five challenges listed above? If you were Apple’s CEO, how would you choose between cost (efficiency) and responsivess regarding: a. increasing product variety, b. shrinking product life cycle, c. increasing globalization, and d. changing technology, respectively? Use examples to explain if you prefer.