Brief Answer Questions:
[10 × 2 = 20]Give the concept of distribution management.
What do you understand by distribution coverage?
Write down the objectives of channel information system.
Point out the role of wholesaler.
Define market coverage.
Define the term category management.
Write down the steps in order processing.
What is inventory control?
How do you manage channel conflict?
Point out any two modes of transportation.
Short Answer Questions: (Attempt any SIX Questions)
[6 × 5 = 30]State and explain the role of marketing channels.
Differentiate between logistics management and supply chain management.
Elucidate the key contributions of retailer in a marketing channel.
Briefly explain the methods of material handling.
Enumerate the steps involved in the process of channel planning.
Differentiate between e-marketing and direct marketing with an example.
Describe the role of government sector in distribution management.
Long Answer Questions: (Attempt any THREE Questions)
[3 × 10 = 30]Discuss about the flows in supply chain system.
Explore the sources of channel power.
Elaborate on the problems and challenges in distribution system of Nepal.
Critically examine the types of channel design.
Comprehensive Answer / Case / Situation Analysis Questions:
[20]Analyze the following case carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Sam Walton founded Wal-Mart in 1962 with a simple goal: Offer low prices to everyone. Employees see their job as a mission "to lower the world's cost of living". Wal-Mart succeeds in the competitive American retail market for several reasons. First, its low prices, cast selection, and superior service keep the customers coming in the door. But one of the Wal-Mart's biggest strengths is not even inside the store. Its unrivaled logistics ensure that it can keep prices low while keeping the right goods on the shelves. The company must coordinate with more than 85000 suppliers, manage billions in inventory in its warehouse and bring that inventory to its retail shelves.
To streamline these tasks, Wal-Mart set up a "hub-and-spoke" network of 103 massive distribution centers. Strategically spaced across the country, no store location is more than a day's drive away from a distribution center. Wal-Mart is known as "The king store of logistics" for its ability to effectively manage such a vast network. Wal-Mart's logistics success is amazing considering its size: Over 100 million items per day must get into the right store at the right time. To accomplish this goal, Wal-Mart developed several IT systems that work together. It all begins at the cash register of the point-of-sale terminal. Every time an item is scanned, the information is relayed to headquarters via satellite data links. Using up-to-the-minute sales information, Wal-Mart's Inventory Management System calculates the rate of sales, factors in seasonal and promotional elements and automatically places replenishment orders to distribution centers and vendor partners.
Suppliers can use its voluminous databases to analyse customers buying behavior. The company uses its information systems and logistics to customize the offerings inside each store to suit regional demand. If Wal-Mart maintains the average growth rate of the past 1-year, it could become the world's first trillion-dollar company.
Questions:
a. On the basis of the given case, explain the role of IT in logistics management.
b. Critically evaluate the distribution strategies of Wal-Mart.
c. Is Wal-Mart really the king of store logistics? Give your opinion.
d. How do suppliers benefit from its information system? Discuss.