BUSINESS STUDIES

See weekly tabs for actual assignments. Traditionally, there are a number of questions concerning the literature reviews, so I enhanced the description of this requirement in the assignments menu, under the literature assignments folder.

It get an article, please just go to the main webpage at KSU and go to library, electronic databases option (search for academic articles online in business), use a search engine (like Proquest, EBSCO, ABInforms, Academic Premiere, etc.), type in supply chain management and some topic (like quality) in the dialogue box, click full text and peer-reviewed articles, then submit. I am sure that your research librarian at the campus you are located will be glad to help you. I just gave you examples of databases from the business area. Please be sure to hit the radio buttons for full text articles and peer-reviewed or scholarly articles as well. Please place the required literature review assignments in the proper assignment folder later listed in the assignment section. Please note that at least one of the articles must be empirically based and all four articles must be peer-reviewed (scholarly).

Types of articles and research methods:

An empirical-based article usually employs a theoretical framework or theory, statistics and/or performance-based metrics to test selected research hypotheses about the SCM techniques discussed (such as the International Journal of Operations Management, Journal of Operations Management, International Journal of Logistics and Supply Management).

A position-based paper, frequently found in such journals as Harvard Business Review or Online Information Review, usually states a personal opinion based on expertise and insight, but not formally test hypotheses.

A case study usually documents business best practice or its opposite in a particular company or industry and gives lessons learned (such journals as Sloan Management Review, Management Directives, and International Journal of Supply Chain Case Studies).
Please place literature review assignment one in the proper assignment folder later listed in the assignment section.

The four literature reviews are required to acquaint students to referred articles in their discipline that uses SCM techniques. Each review must be typed and have a photocopy (PDF or other electronic document) of the original article attached to your final report, which will consist of the following major headings so labeled in your literature review:

Major Headings in the Literature Review:

Citation (i.e., you must follow APA guideline. A copy of those guidelines are available in Course Documents. They include author, article, and journal name, title, volume, issue, and page numbers).

Research classification (i.e., is the article basic or applied research based? Which above research method was followed and why).

Statement of problem (i.e., what are the issue or applications that need to be solved? What are fundamental management issues that have been raised and how have they be solved or studied in the past?).

Types of operations management/supply chain management/decision science techniques (i.e., be specific, which SCM techniques or techniques did the authors used. I do not methodology as much as what were the issues in SCM that are covered by particular chapters, how, and why).

Evaluation of the usefulness of the above operations or supply chain management/decision science techniques (i.e., did the authors solve the research questions initial discussed in the introduction section? Did they accept or reject their hypotheses? Please relate your responses back to the introduction and techniques used in the paper).

Personal evaluation (i.e., answer such questions as was the information useful to practitioners, managers, can it be used in your employment, what improvements and issues did you like, etc.?

Be sure that you pick a different topic SCM from the 14 chapters listed in the textbook. As I have mentioned before, When searching for an appropriate topic, use an electronic business database search via the e-library, such as Pro-quest, ABInforms, ESBCO, to name a few; be sure to type in the search field operations management and one of the strategic decisions of supply management (chapter titles), click the full text and scholarly radio buttons within the dialogue box. Try to pick an article that is of interest to you, at least ten-pages in length, and no older than 2012. For examples, please check under the Course Documents folder for examples of the various types of assignments required for this class.