In the light of the ongoing globalization and evolution of today’s business world logistics has gained significant visibility and is regarded as a critical link to improved corporate performance. The value of the global logistics market accounted for $591.1 billion in 2005 and is expected to further grow by 22.1% until 2010. Apart from a constant pressure to reduce costs and improve efficiency, logistics increasingly serves as a differentiating feature for products and an important lever for improving customer satisfaction. Coordination with other departments also plays a crucial role. The increasing complexity and dynamics of the business world did not leave logistics unaffected. Key drivers of uncertainty include globalization of supply and customer bases, shortening of product life cycles, increasing competition and more demanding customers. Thus, the challenge for logistics managers nowadays is to constantly balance a need to perform well on hard measures of performance, while responding to a constantly changing environment. With respect to logistics increasing importance for corporate success, reacting to contingencies by crisis management and firefighting is no longer an option. Instead, logistics managers must proactively and strategically plan for the future and prepare for change.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- List of abreviations
- Introduction
- Course of the analysis
- Underlying concepts and definitions
- Concept of uncertainty
- Strategic planning as part of strategic management
- Fundamentals of business logistics
- Strategic logistics management under uncertainty
- Uncertainty in the logistics environment
- Strategic logistics plan development
- Types of logistics strategies
- Types of logistics organizations
- General issues in the design of logistics organizations
- Functional design strategies
- Flow oriented design strategies
- Conclusion and outlook
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This seminar paper aims to examine how strategic logistics decisions can be taken in the face of increasing uncertainty in the global business environment. The paper argues that traditional approaches to logistics planning, focused solely on cost efficiency and customer service, are insufficient to cope with the dynamic and complex landscape of modern business.
- The increasing importance of logistics as a strategic capability in the face of globalization, vertical disintegration, and outsourcing.
- The need for a shift from reactive crisis management to proactive and strategic planning in logistics.
- The development of more flexible and agile logistics strategies to respond to uncertainty and generate strategic options.
- The importance of integrating strategic logistics planning into the overall corporate strategic planning process.
- The need for organizational changes to create an adaptive and flexible framework for logistics operations.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter establishes the context for the paper by discussing the growing importance of logistics in the global economy and the challenges posed by increasing uncertainty. It highlights the need for strategic logistics management to address these challenges.
- Course of the analysis: This chapter outlines the structure and approach of the paper, explaining how the analysis will proceed to explore the key concepts and issues related to strategic logistics management under uncertainty.
- Underlying concepts and definitions: This chapter defines key concepts such as uncertainty, strategic planning, and business logistics, providing a theoretical foundation for the subsequent analysis.
- Strategic logistics management under uncertainty: This chapter explores the challenges of uncertainty in the logistics environment, examining how strategic logistics planning can be used to address these challenges. It discusses the different types of logistics strategies and organizations, highlighting the need for flexibility and adaptation.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this paper include strategic logistics management, uncertainty, globalization, vertical disintegration, outsourcing, strategic planning, logistics environment, flexibility, agility, organizational design, and adaptation.
- Quote paper
- Heiner Offenbächer (Author), 2006, Strategic Logistics Management - Decision-Making in Times of Great Uncertainty, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/64175
