We think that when you review your lecture outlines on supply chains and OM this semester and in Spring, you may find the need for some reworking. As a matter of fact, “the disruption of the pandemic in 2020, coming on top of the uncertainties surrounding trade wars, has helped turn OM/SCM into a theme of growing concern for businesses, business schools and wider society,” reports Financial Times (Oct. 8, 2020).
Cross-border trade comprised just 5% of GDP in the mid-20th century but today it is closer to 50%. That has been accompanied by a rapid extension of global supply chains with products and their components often manufactured in numerous countries, driven by cheap labor and easier transport and communication.
London Business School Prof. Jeremie Gallien states: “supply chain management used to be perceived as a ‘somewhat niche component’ of the business education curriculum. In the aftermath of the first Covid wave, many firms found themselves either fighting for survival or realizing the importance of increasing their resilience to reduce the costs they will incur during the next disruption It is harder to get student interest if one teaches supply chain concepts without being able to relate to Covid-19.”
Jay, Chuck, and I agree. And as authors of the top selling OM text in U.S. and global markets, we are here to help make your lectures more timely and relevant. We hope you will incorporate Table 11.3 (“Supply Chain Risks and Tactics”) in Ch. 11 (p. 450) and the section called “Evaluating Disaster Risk in the Supply Chain” in Supp. 11 (p.472-3) into your syllabus.
And to bring more currency into case discussions, we have just written a new case called Premier Bicycle’s COVID Problem. This case will appear in MyOMLab’s Spring edition, but here is the link should you want to preview the case or teach it this term.