Topic: The Operational Planning for the Cross-docking Supply Chain Transformation of a Large Supermarket Chain – Insights from a Large Single Case Study

Speaker: Prof. Shong-Iee Ivan Su, Soochow University

Host: Prof. SHOU Yongyi

Tim: 10:00-11:30 November 10th, 2016 (Thursday)

Venue: Room 1102

Abstract: This talk will share with the participants the experiences and insights from a multiple year industry and academic collaboration study of a large retail supermarket chain in Taiwan. The study needed to capture in a faster speed the problems raised by the retailer and proposed a strategic direction (which of course is based on the researcher’s academic instinct derived from his knowledge base) to gain the recognition by the top management before a substantive and in-depth strategic and feasibility study that can support and justify the next stage large scale cross docking supply chain transformation efforts and investment decisions. Various interesting research issues must be tackled along with the operational planning and implementation of the supply chain transformation project. It is also found that the initial operational plans with little time for a formal business analytics study (or was called an optimization study in the old days)before implementation can be improved substantially through a formal business analytics study. This study also demonstrates a single case study with a problem solving orientation, i.e. design science approach, can be rich in terms of the research issues and methodological choices (both qualitative and quantitative methods). To conclude, “Without practice, there is no place for theory; without theory, there is no progress for practice.”