Global Supply Chain Management in the Telecommunications Industry: The Role of Information Technology in Integration of Supply Chain Entities

In just the past few years, options have been examined for determining optimal operations and logistics strategies for competing in the global market. In terms of advances in technology and globalization of markets, organizations have had to improve their internal processes just to stay competitive. However, as a result of these changes, organizations are determining that these internal improvements were not enough. Where once information technologies allowed businesses to reengineer and streamline their internal business processes - streamlining the global supply chain will require the internal information systems extended beyond a firm's enterprise and include electronic connections between each of the global supply chain partners. An in-depth case study is used to illustrate a broad view of an entire supply chain to reveal full product and component life cycle that not only reveals opportunities for cost reduction but also stimulates revenue growth. It makes the point that organizations must get more involved in the management of their global supply chain network of all upstream firms that provide inputs as well as the network of all downstream firms that provide outputs of the product to the final customer.