1. Recognize the importance of strategic logistical issues and their relationship to attainment of supply chain objectives. 2. Measure the environmental forces, trends, and strategic issues facing organizations in both the public, private and non-profit sectors so that students can devise logistics strategies that can deal with these circumstances.

Post a short description of your Project Topic (OUTSOURCING IN SUPPLY CHAIN)

A logistics research paper. As you consider a problem area as a possible topic for your Individual paper, you should do preliminary research to find an aspect that is both personally interesting to you. Keep in mind that the paper should be no less than 8 pages and no more than 10 pages in length (this is for the body only and does not include the cover page, table of contents or reference page). Please note: There will not be points deducted if the paper runs slightly over 10 pages. Just keep the page length reasonable. Do not submit a topic or paper that you have used in a previous course.

As you think about a topic for your paper, you should try to start with a broad topic and then narrow it down to a topic that will fit the page requirements. Common ways to limit the topic include selecting a particular industry, considering a type of product, and domestic versus international logistics.

You should develop a goal in developing the research paper. This goal will also help you narrow the topic and identify where you want to focus your research.

Some examples of goals include:

1. Recognize the importance of strategic logistical issues and their relationship to attainment of supply chain objectives.

2. Measure the environmental forces, trends, and strategic issues facing organizations in both the public, private and non-profit sectors so that students can devise logistics strategies that can deal with these circumstances.

3. Apply the evolving concepts of supply chain management and how the logistics function is expanding into a larger and more proactive role in managing the complete materials cycle. Students will be challenged to devise logistics strategies that mutually support the organization’s marketing and financial efforts.

4. Recognize the importance of internal and external partnering and how logistics organizations are devising strategies where logistics plays a key role within the organization.

5. Devise logistics strategies that consider overall cost of ownership, quality, best value, and optimal inventory objectives.

6. Devise logistics strategies for use of third-party logistics service providers for fulfilling requirements.

7. Recognize trends in international logistics and what factors logistics professionals should consider in planning international logistics options.

8. Apply the broader responsibilities of logistics so that they can contribute to ethical organizational practices, meeting environmental objectives, and improve the attainment of socio-economic programs.

9. Devise a futuristic perspective of what logistics will be like in the next century by examining trends and research on the knowledge and skill requirements for the logistics in the next decade.

10. Recognize the importance of logistics in dealing with natural and humanitarian disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina or war.

11. The course goals / objects are also another source of topic ideas. As previously mentioned, these goals are not topics per se. Instead, your topic should be a sub-set to meet one of the goals. For example, a research paper topic based upon item number 2 above may be: “Comparing the logistical challenges facing for-profit organization and non-profit agencies after a natural disaster.”