Wal-Mart Integrate IT Helps Stay Relatively Advantage in Supply Chain Management

RESEARCH PROPOSAL
UNIVERSITY
12TH NOV 2017
CASE STUDY PROJECT
Wal-Mart’s Adoption of Universal Bar Code, RFID and Magic Wand technologies have helped the Company Stay Relatively Advantaged in Inventory and Supply Chain Management.
ABSTRACT
Information Technology (IT) plays a significant role in enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, accuracy and timeliness of information flow within a supply chain management system. The use of Universal Bar Code, RFID and Magic Wand technologies have been instrumental in boosting Wal-Mart’s supply chain efficiency. Integration of these three technologies in in inventory and supply chain management provides not only unsurpassed opportunities for improved cost reduction and ultimately significant cost savings, but can also a competitive advantage within the industry. Adoption of Universal Bar Code, RFID and Magic Wand into the supply chain management can be the single most important strategic decision that a business can undertake. Wal-Mart’s early integration these three technologies in supply chain management turned out to be a key differentiator with the competition. RFID tags, which are nothing but microchips embedded with product information, communicate and exchange data through radio frequencies. Universal Bar Code, RFID and Magic Wand adoption involves the use of white tags to identify items from the supplier’s warehouse to help with tracking from the supplier to the retail store’s shelf and ultimately, point of sale. Application and integration of IT in supply chain management has increased Wal-Mart’s operational efficiency. RFID tags, which are small wireless devices affixed onto items, help with tracking of objects from the source to destination. The use of IT in supply chain management has proved to be an essential asset for retail companies due to its potential to drastically reduce operational costs, eliminate frequent stock outs, product theft and other supply chain malpractices.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOC \o "1-3" \u ABSTRACT PAGEREF _Toc500314722 \h 2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PAGEREF _Toc500314723 \h 4
1.1 Statement of the Problem PAGEREF _Toc500314724 \h 6
1.2 Research Objectives PAGEREF _Toc500314725 \h 6
1.3 Research Questions PAGEREF _Toc500314726 \h 7
1.4 Purpose Statement PAGEREF _Toc500314727 \h 7
1.5 Research Background PAGEREF _Toc500314728 \h 8
1.6 Overview of Universal Bar Code, RFID and Magic Wand Adoption PAGEREF _Toc500314729 \h 8
1.7 Significance of the study PAGEREF _Toc500314730 \h 10
1.8 Scope of the Study PAGEREF _Toc500314731 \h 11
2.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY PAGEREF _Toc500314732 \h 11
2.1 Sampling Frame PAGEREF _Toc500314733 \h 13
2.2 Data Collection Procedure PAGEREF _Toc500314734 \h 13
2.3 Data Collection PAGEREF _Toc500314735 \h 14
2.4 Data Sampling Criteria PAGEREF _Toc500314736 \h 15
2.5 Microsoft Productivity Tools PAGEREF _Toc500314737 \h 15
2.5.1 Research Design and Strategy PAGEREF _Toc500314738 \h 15
2.6 Data Collection Strategy PAGEREF _Toc500314739 \h 16
2.7Surveys and Data Analysis PAGEREF _Toc500314740 \h 18
2.7.1 Research Survey PAGEREF _Toc500314741 \h 18
2.7.2 Survey Project Design Procedure PAGEREF _Toc500314742 \h 18
2.7.3 Questionnaire Des...