Assignment 1 – MBALN670 – Supply Chain Management

Assignment Brief:

Prior to attempting the assignment questions please read the following

material:

 Welcome to Cruise International

 Overview of Cruise International

 Mission Statement which includes:

o Cruise Data • North American Passenger Capacity • Cruise Destination Data

• Cruise Destination Data (Seasonalized) • Average Length of Cruise Data

• Length of Cruise Demand Data • Average Capacity Utilization

Quality Survey Data • Billing Errors Data • Guest Survey Data

• Housekeeping Stateroom

• Cleaning Data

o Housekeeping Work Sampling Data Hours Required to Accomplish Routine Maintenance Tasks

Cost Reports Processing Time Chart

 Departments

 Guest’s Survey Form  Activities for Telemedicine System Implementation

 Embarkation Process

Guidelines for assignment  This is an individual assignment  Ground your answer in relevant theory  Plagiarism and reproduction of someone else’s work as your own will be

penalized  Make use of references, where appropriate – Use Harvard or APA referencing

method.  Late submission implies a deduction of 10 marks per day  Structural elements should include an introduction, main body, and a conclusion  Weight – 50%

 All of the following questions are to be attempted.

 Maximum word count: 2000 words

 Type of assignment: Essay

 Start / Finish : Week 2

Learning Outcome Assessed: 1,2,3

CHAPTER 4: Supply Chain Management at Cruise International, Inc.

Bob Bristol, your boss at Cruise International, Inc., just called to tell you that he was

impressed with your progress thus far in familiarizing yourself with operations at CII-

both the strategic details pertaining to its mission, competitive priorities, etc. and the

specific details concerning its services and processes. He tells you that, with all the

buzz about supply chain management (SCM) that you hear these days, CII is actively

interested in exploring how different SCM concepts and techniques could be used in

their operations. Maintaining an adequate, assured supply of a variety of mechanical

equipment, entertainment equipment, retail merchandise, food products, and supplies

for maintaining the ship is critical to CII. Meghan Willoughby, Chief Purser aboard the

Friendly Seas I, has a couple of specific assignments that you will work on later. But for

now, Meghan would like a concise research report for the top management team

addressing SCM issues relevant to CII.

“Leila Jensen liked your write-up on the CII service package and delivery system.

Meghan Willoughby wants you to prepare a similar report addressing SCM issues

relevant to CII. Senior Administrators at CII are actively involved in exploring how SCM

concepts and techniques could be adopted in their operations. Prepare a concise report

addressing the specific questions that Meghan has put together for you. I look forward

to receiving your report, which I am sure will provide insight for SC applications at CII.”

1. Provide a comprehensive explanation of the essential concepts of SCM

and explain to what extent SCM is applicable to a service operation

such as CII.

2. Evaluate how partnering with some of the suppliers could benefit CII.

What issues should CII consider when developing partnerships?

3. Purchasing, a major function in SCM, is critical in the cruise line

industry. Critique the potential conflicts of interest or ethical issues

facing the purchasing function.