Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Employee pay was not identified as an important factor by high-performance organizations according to i4cp surveys, which focus more on development and management practices.

Question 2

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?
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.

Accepted Answer

General awareness of the discipline is widespread is not a reason why young people are avoiding careers in supply chain management; in fact, it suggests the opposite.

Question 3

Which business writer and author has state that: "It's not how you compensate your executives, it's which executives you have to compensate in the first place."
A) Jim Collins.
B) W. Edwards Deming.
C) Peter Drucker.
D) Henry Ford.
E) Tom Peters.

Accepted Answer

Jim Collins is known for his work on leadership and company performance, and this quote aligns with his focus on the importance of having the right people in leadership positions.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

A "hands off" approach to communicating and managing employees would likely lead to disengagement and lack of involvement, which is contrary to the goal of maximizing people involvement in supply chain management.

Question 5

Supply chain executives should possess all of the following competencies, except for:
A) Ability to communicate information to others.
B) High adaptability to a workplace where job and environmental complexity varies.
C) High need for achievement.
D) Strong verbal intelligence.
E) All of these are competencies that supply chain executives should possess.

Accepted Answer

All the listed competencies are important for supply chain executives to effectively manage and adapt to the complexities and demands of their roles.

Question 6

Many supply chain executives are good leaders, but they recognize that they could improve in several areas. All of the following would be areas of potential improvement, except for:
A) Being deliberate, but going along on their own pace.
B) Being more willing to challenge the status quo.
C) Considering deadlines that are rigid rather than flexible.
D) Having more extensive cross-functional and global experience.
E) Use of more open and information approaches to building better relationships with others.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many supply chain executives are good leaders,...

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

A workforce performance system is a set of processes and procedures that are used to measure and improve the performance of employees. It typically includes mechanisms to indicate when performance standards are not being achieved, as well as provisions for corrective actions. It also includes cost expectations related to labor budget and profit margins, and uniform performance standards for all tasks and subtasks.

Question 8

When considering employee skills demanded by employers for supply chain management jobs, both technical and soft skills are required. Which of the following would be considered a soft skill?
A) Ability to utilize mobile technology.
B) Business analytics insight.
C) Good problem solving skills.
D) Supply chain tech management.
E) Understanding KPIs and benchmarking.

Accepted Answer

Good problem solving skills are considered a soft skill as they involve interpersonal and cognitive abilities rather than technical expertise.

Question 9

In a study of onboarding practices of U.S.-based companies it was found that organizations do a number of things. Which of the following is not one of those onboarding practices?
A) A majority of firms do exit interviews when an employee leaves the company.
B) A minority of companies have a formal onboarding program.
C) A minority of firms have an onboarding program for employees who change jobs or are promoted.
D) Less than one-half of companies begin onboarding prior to the new employee reporting to work.
E) The most common onboarding metrics include employee turnover/retention and performance measures.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a study of onboarding practices of...

Question 10

In best-practice organizations, employee training efforts include all of the following key elements except for:
A) Measures are in place to determine training effectiveness.
B) Required competencies/skills are identified and documented for each position.
C) Training only occurs within the organization and does not extend beyond the organization to other members of the supply chain.
D) Training outcomes are correlated with performance reviews.
E) Web-based training supports other training programs.

Accepted Answer

Best-practice organizations often extend training beyond the organization to include other members of the supply chain to ensure a cohesive and comprehensive approach to skills and knowledge development.

Question 11

There can be many reasons that performance objectives are not met by employees. Which of the following would be the most likely reason?
A) They don't know what is expected of them.
B) They don't know how to do the job due to poor training.
C) They can't do the job because the job is poorly defined.
D) There are barriers beyond the employee's control (e.g., lack of proper equipment, poor work environment).
E) They don't want to do the job.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There can be many reasons that performance...

Question 12

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:
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.

Accepted Answer

Shorter order-to-cash cycle times are typically a result of improved internal processes and efficiencies, not a primary reason to utilize a 4PL.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

Most 4PLs heavily rely on technology to manage their client's supply chains, making this statement incorrect.

Question 14

Agile organizations typically can be identified by five trademarks, which include all of the following except for:
A) Finances.
B) People.
C) Process.
D) Strategy.
E) Structure.

Accepted Answer

Finances is not a trademark of agile organizations.

Question 15

A keiretsu, a term describing a group of affiliated corporations with broad power and reach, would typically provide all of the following types of support to the supply chain, except for:
A) Financial.
B) Legal.
C) Logistics.
D) Marketing and sales.
E) Organizational.

Accepted Answer

Keiretsu typically provide financial, legal, logistics, and organizational support to the supply chain, but not marketing and sales.

Question 16

Which of the following factors would not likely contribute to organizational effectiveness in a supply chain?
A) Employee characteristics.
B) Environmental characteristics.
C) Managerial policies and practices.
D) Marketing and sales characteristics.
E) Organizational characteristics.

Accepted Answer

Marketing and sales characteristics are more related to customer engagement and revenue generation rather than directly impacting the internal effectiveness of a supply chain.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

These elements are structural aspects of an organization, which are part of organizational characteristics.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

Information technology advances can provide firms with sustainable advantages in cost control and customer satisfaction levels, making statement B false.

Question 19

Which of the following would not be applications of cloud computing in supply chain management?
A) Allows organizations to reduce order cycle times using an integrated cloud-based system.
B) Cloud-based WMS and ERP systems are less costly and just as effective as company-owned systems.
C) Equipment performance and maintenance can be managed proactively.
D) Supply chain visibility can be enhanced as real-time tracking and tracing occur with cloud-based applications.
E) All of these would be applications of cloud computing in supply chain management.

Accepted Answer

All the options listed are applications of cloud computing in supply chain management, including reducing order cycle times, cost-effective cloud-based systems, proactive equipment management, and enhanced supply chain visibility.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of As an important factor in achieving supply...

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

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?

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 business writer and author has state that: "It's not how you compensate your executives, it's which executives you have to compensate in the first place."

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

Supply chain executives should possess all of the following competencies, except for:

Many supply chain executives are good leaders, but they recognize that they could improve in several areas. All of the following would be areas of potential improvement, except for:

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

When considering employee skills demanded by employers for supply chain management jobs, both technical and soft skills are required. Which of the following would be considered a soft skill?

In a study of onboarding practices of U.S.-based companies it was found that organizations do a number of things. Which of the following is not one of those onboarding practices?

In best-practice organizations, employee training efforts include all of the following key elements except for:

There can be many reasons that performance objectives are not met by employees. Which of the following would be the most likely reason?

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?

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

A keiretsu, a term describing a group of affiliated corporations with broad power and reach, would typically provide all of the following types of support to the supply chain, except for:

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

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?

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

Which of the following would not be applications of cloud computing in supply chain management?

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?