CAIE A-Level Business 4.2.1 Managing Inventory

Evaluate the importance to DN of effective supply chain management.

&

2(d)

Indicative content

Knowledge of supply chain (max $2 \square^{\mathrm{k}} \mathrm{s}$ ), may include:

AO1 Knowledge and understanding:

- Supply Chain Management understanding

- The process of creating content

- Managing content

- Delivering content to the consumer

- Customer expectations

- Employee skills

- Suitable content

- Quality issues

- Cost control

No further marks can be gained without knowledge and understanding.

AO2 Application

Limited application ${ }^{\text {spe } \text { applies knowledge of effective supply chain management to DN once. }}$

Developed application $\Sigma^{\mathrm{Fe}}+\Sigma^{\mathrm{Fe}}$ applies knowledge of effective supply chain management DN twice.

- content accessible on any device at any time / the magazine content should be available on all devices,

- Through all internet service providers and easily available to subscribers.

- Content suitable for target market (18-30)

- Not easily available to non-subscribers

- Need to keep costs low

- Allow DN to compete in the new market

- Difference between local and national market

2(d)

AO3 Analysis

Limited analysis → - candidate shows one link in the chain of analysis.

Developed analysis → candidate shows two or more links in the chain of analysis.

- Do current employees have the right skills - to provide appropriate content?

- Can the business survive inefficient management of the supply chain - as costs need to be carefully controlled throughout the chain?

- Large variation of formats required - will involve many suppliers of different platforms / devices.

- Multiple service providers add additional complexity - which can be challenging to manage.

- Need to provide a quality product - which requires careful monitoring throughout the supply chain.

- Content should be easy to find - how to ensure that this applies to all platforms / devices.

- Employees important part of the supply chain - they have concerns / careful workforce planning required.

AO4 Evaluation

Limited evaluation ${ }^{\text {IVAL }}$ - unsupported judgement and/or a weak attempt at evaluative comment

Developed evaluation ${ }^{\mathrm{E}}$ - supported judgement and/or reasonable evaluative comment.

Developed evaluation in context ${ }^{\overline{\mathrm{EE}}}$ - supported judgement in context and/or reasonable evaluative comment in context.

- A justified recommendation

- Assessment of the decision

- Identification of factors critical in the supply chain

- How to ensure quality - what to compare to / what is quality content

- Is there enough information to implement

- Will revenue outweigh costs

- Require complex negotiations with multiple platforms - do they have the expertise?

- Discussion of further information required.

- Other factors more important e.g., marketing

Accept all valid responses.

2(d)

Exemplars for awarding evaluation

L1 ${ }^{\text {ENAL }}$ (limited
supporting evidence)

L2 ± (developed supporting
evidence)

L3 ${ }^{\text {LE }}$ (developed supporting evidence with
context)

Effective supply chain
management is
important to DN

Effective supply chain management
is important to DN as it needs to
deliver content that meets customer
expectations.

Effective supply chain management is important to DN
as it needs to deliver content that meets customer
expectations. The main premise of their product is to
deliver factual, entertaining and informative news.

Supply chain
management is not as
important as marketing.

Supply chain management is not as
important as marketing because
without awareness and advertising
there will be a lack of demand.

Supply chain management is not as important as
marketing because without awareness and advertising
there will be a lack of demand. Since Qline will be a
new online monthly magazine DN will need social
media accounts to promote this product.