Background/Introduction
The research topic is transportation and logistics management. This subject is of central importance, particularly because the management of transportation and logistics is the heart of the global chain management (Zammori, Bigliardi and Carmignani 217). This is especially so as it encompasses the most defining processes including the manufacture of products and services, distribution, retailing, recreation, as well as, national security. Besides, the topic is relevant to diverse sectors in an economy including the government, military and large business organizations whose success is dependent on the international fulfillment of the customer requirements.
As documented by different researchers, companies that have a global supply chain in place usually incur essentially high inbound and outbound logistics costs. In the modern day world of business, the desire for every company is to reduce costs and thus increase the level of profitability (Hazen et al. 160). However, if the inbound and outbound logistics cost are high, such a goal cannot be realized, and this diminishes the essence of operating globally. Furthermore, the participants in the logistics network are fragmented.
The disconnection between the inbound global movements and the domestic transportation activities or operations mostly presents the issue. Such an issue, as well, makes it particularly difficult for an entity to realize optimal economies of scale that come with global supply chain (Hazen et al. 165). This problem leads to the following research question; what technology should be implemented to alleviate the issues presented by inbound and outbound logistics? My working thesis is that the integration of SAP in logistics will reduce, not only the high costs but also help connect all participants in a logistics network.
It is expected that the data to be collected will point towards SAP as an ideal method of solving the issue at hand. Due to its resiliency and robustness, SAP can reduce costs associated with logistics and at the same time, assist in building a network, which will, in turn, bring all the participants together. With SAP, sharing real-time information in a prompt manner will be made possible.
Plans, Methods, and Procedures
Especially for the secondary research, note taking will be very essential. For each peer-reviewed source, a brief summary will be recorded using a computer application (Microsoft Office Word). After summarizing, each article’s link will be saved in an email, preferably Gmail, as a draft. The documentation style to be used is MLA. The way each referenced scholarly article will appear can be viewed in the reference section of this text.
Schedule
First Week: Submitting the research proposal, the thesis statement as well as the outline
Second Week: Choosing the secondary and primary resources that I will use for the research study
Third Week: Writing a draft of all the paragraphs
Fourth Week: Undertake further research and adding relevant quantifying information to the research
Fifth Week: Format the paper and include all relevant in text citations and references base on the MLA formatting system. Allow colleagues to peer review my work
Sixth Week: Make revisions based on the suggestions from colleagues
Seventh Week: Submit the completed paper for grading
Approval Request: Dear instructor please provide be with your informed feedback and advice for the paper.
Works Cited
Hazen, Benjamin T., et al. "Antecedents to and outcomes of reverse logistics metrics." Industrial Marketing Management 46 (2015): 160-170.
Zammori, Francesco, Barbara Bigliardi, and Gionata Carmignani. "Selecting inbound logistic policies: an ANP-based multi criteria decision making approach." International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management 19.2 (2014): 212-244.
