Technology and Logistics

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- Information Literacy: Since information is only valuable once it has been interpreted. Information overload occurs when an organization’s methods for retrieving, handling and interpreting said information is insufficient; therefore improving the competence of their employees in information processing is crucial to combating the information overload cycle.

- Personal Information Management: To manage information overload an organization must incorporate some form of personal information management strategy that integrates both subsystems by deciding which medium is implemented while taking into consideration that which is most favorable within the organization.

Another good example is outlined in January-February 2014, Harvard Business Review and shows where a business entity found a better solution to possible information overload by changing both their technical and social systems. In her article “How Netflix Reinvented HR” Patty McCord tells of the necessary action Netflix had taken in order to continue to grow and provide relevance to its stockholders. After initiating its Initial Public Offering, Reed Hastings the former CEO of Netflix became aware that as a public company they now needed Certified Public Accountants, credentialed accounting professionals accompanying their new technology which could accurately capture the required financial information. It was decided that their current associate degree bookkeeper, despite her excellent work ethic and track record was no longer adequate and that one or more persons with the technological and financial knowledge would be needed. In another situation Netflix’s quality assurance engineer who wasn’t particularly fond of or good with technology, had to be replaced due to the new and evolving technology being incorporated into the organization (McCord, 2014).

Conclusion

Summing up the case assignment, the key to global logistics management is the capability of an organization to efficiently unplug from one location and enter a new market location. Logistics managers are working to identify sophisticated web based technology that will enable them to perform day to day management as well as formulate logistics strategy of long-term nature. The capability to efficiently manage the supply chain will serve as competitive advantage in the dynamic business, socio-political and economic environment. This then also holds true in regards to business entities procuring new technological subsystems; they are forced to ensure that they have the correct social subsystems in place to properly operate their new technological resources. Therefore, organizations in order to find better solutions to information overload, must change both their technical and social subsystems simultaneously if they want to procure the correct and necessary information that can assist them in meeting their strategic and organizational goals.

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References

Albright, B. (2002, November). New Technology Reads Hidden Bar Codes. Retrieved from FrontlineToday.com: www.frontlinetoday.com

Edmunds, A., & Morris, A. (2000). The problem of information overload in business organisations: a review of the literature. International Journal of Information Management Vol. 20, 17-28.

McCord, P. (2014, January-February 01). How Netflix Reinvented HR. Harvard Business Review, p. 4.

SupplyChainBrain. (2010, October 8). Smart Technology can Ease Congestion, Improve Transportation Options and Strengthen Global Competitiveness. Retrieved from SupplyChainBrain: http://www.supplychainbrain.com/content/logisticstransportation/transportation-distribution/single-article-page/article/report-smart-technology-can-ease-congestion-improve-transportation-options-and-strengthen-global-c/

University of Idaho. (2015, 05 24). Information Technolgy Services. Retrieved from University of Idaho: http://www.uidaho.edu/its/strategic-plan/purpose

Wedan, Q. (2006). Transforming Global Logistics for Strategic Advantage in Emerging Markets. Somers, NY: IBM Global Business Services.