The decision to make or buy, also known as the decision to outsource or not, is key for many companies. It can provide a competitive edge, or it can ruin the company by taking control away and returning disappointing results. For this discussion, research news articles and provide an example of a company that has decided to outsource or decided to focus on making in-house.
1) Describe the company and the situation.
2) Explain why they made the decision.
3) Discuss the results. Do you think they made the right choice? Why?
Read the following chapter in your text:
- Chapter 2: “Purchasing Management”
In this chapter you will learn about the purchasing function. The focus will be on the role of the industrial buyer and the process of purchasing. You will learn how electronic purchasing works, pros and cons of various purchasing strategies and systems and issues regarding small purchase orders. You will also learn about supplier selection, which is a key element of successfully integrating the supply chain.
1) Among the concepts you have learned, which do you think is most useful to you or your organization?
2) Which concept(s) caused the most confusion in this unit?
3) Which concept(s) did you wish went into further detail, either because you are interested or because it’s too complex for the coverage it received?