In the following questions, compare and contrast the operations infrastructures needed to support a “brick” traditional thousands of store chain such as Barnes and Nobles (excluding the internet component) and a “click” internet only (such as Amazon.com but only books) in the bookstore industry.
There is no need to find out specific information about companies, but discuss your expectations of the differences between these types of bookstore operations. Please state your general assumptions about each business. Please be sure to address operations issues in your answers.
1.a Compare and contrast a “bricks” non-internet national store book business and a “clicks” internet only bookstore on the following operations dimensions: Order winners, type of inventory (cycle, safety stock, anticipation, pipeline), and supply chain design.
1.b Discuss the similarities and difference in the components that determine capacity for both “bricks” and “clicks”? What type of capacity utilization would you anticipate for each?
1.c A retiring professor wants to open a local, one location bookstore. How can this “retired professor’s bookstore” compete with the new “clicks” model? What competitive capabilities or order winners will need to be developed? How will “retired professor bookstore” compare with the “clicks” model in terms of supply chain and inventory?