Responsibilities and Duties of the Logistics Unit in the Success of Apple Inc.

Topic/ Reference organization: Apple/ MAC
The Session Long Project for this Capstone course is based on two major phases (activities) for each of the five modules:
Activity 1 (Assessment Phase) Describe and evaluate how your Case study organization approaches five contemporary logistics issues explored in the modules. For example, Module 1 is focused on exploring and describing the placement of logistics in the organizational structure. Module 2 gives you the opportunity to assess the feasibility of the organization's use of third and fourth party logistics providers. Module 3 examines the role benchmarking and performance assessment play in your organization. Module 4 explores adaptations the organization is making to adjust to the volatility of geopolitical issues. Module 5 demonstrates the role planning plays in the design of a logistics system.
Activity 2 (Improvement Phase)
Display your creativity and demonstrate integrative and synthesizing skills based on the current course and on previous courses taken in logistics and related areas (i.e., LOG301, LOG302, and LOG401). Assess how your Case study organization might better address the five issues described in the first phase.
Whenever possible integrate information from previous courses along with providing examples based on your own experiences to illustrate and support the points discussed in the essay.
Phase 1 (Assessment Phase)
Briefly describe the organization you have selected for the SLP, discuss where the unit responsible for logistics is in the organizational chart, briefly describe the duties and responsibilities of the logistics unit, and note the level of recognition senior management gives the unit.
Phase 2 (Improvement Phase)
Assess how and if logistics operations could be more effectively and strategically integrated into the organizational structure (Phase 2).
Then on the next section/ phase write about:
Phase 1 (Assessment Phase)
Describe and assess your organization's experience, if any, with 4PLs (“virtual” logistics service providers [VLSP]).
Phase 2 (Improvement Phase)
Determine if your organization could more effectively use the services of 4PLs (VLSP). If your organization has no experience with 4PLs (VLSP), discuss the major advantages and disadvantages that might result from using a VLSP for the organization.
For the next section go into detail on:
Activity 1 (Assessment Phase)
Describe and assess how benchmarking is used to evaluate the performance of the logistics function within your organization.
Activity 2 (Improvement Phase)
Explore how your organization might enhance logistics operations by incorporating greater use of benchmarking and performance metrics.
For the next section go into detail on:
Activity 1 (Assessment Phase)
Discuss the major operational threats your organization's logistics functions face as a result of global terrorism.
Activity 2 (Improvement Phase)
How might your organization better mitigate the threats of terrorism relative to its logistics operations?
Armed forces personnel who believe they may have difficulty answering these questions because of security concerns should shift the scale of inquiry to the logistics risks the nation faces and how it might better mitigate vulnerability to these risks.
Then explain/ describe:
Activity 1 (Assessment Phase)
Describe and assess whether your organization uses comprehensive logistics planning effectively.
Activity 2 (Improvement Phase)
Explore how your reference organization might more effectively implement comprehensive logistics planning.
SLP Assignment Expectations
Display an in-depth understanding of the unit responsible for logistics, the responsibilities of the unit, and the placement of logistics in the organizational chart of the reference organization. Assess the selection feasibility and rationale that the Case study organization will support in the two phases of the exercise. Show critical thinking skills in evaluating the current placement of logistics in the reference organization and how logistics might be more effectively integrated into the organizational structure.