The purpose of this thesis is to gain exposure to current supply chain research topics through attendance of four seminars. The first portion of this paper includes summaries of each of the four seminars that I attended. These summaries are followed by an analysis of sustainable Styrofoam alternatives with a focus on factors deterring widespread use of these alternatives. This topic relates to the first seminar I attended, presented by Dr. Karen Donohue from the University of Minnesota. Specific areas of Donohue’s presentation — the shift toward e-commerce, and consolidated shipping with reduced packaging— sparked my interest in available alternatives for a popular, but unsustainable, packaging material: Styrofoam. I primarily considered journals and articles for the second portion of this thesis, but I also investigated these alternatives through visiting manufacturer websites discussing available products, production processes, and other available information.

This project explores the current state of electronic dance music festivals and evaluates the role of a supply chain strategy in executing successful events. First by assessing market requirements from relevant attendees, several key themes are then identified and discussed. The related supply chain objectives are then determined based on the market requirements with specific tactics on how to achieve the objectives.

The surge of United States high-tech firms offshoring operations to China was driven by economic incentives of the early 1990s, low costs of labor, and ample access to an abundance of resources required in high-tech manufacturing. The dawn of the 21st century served as the advent of technological advancement and innovation in congruence with China’s rapid ascension as a prime high-tech manufacturing hub. However, increased allegations of foreign intellectual property (IP) infringement in outsourced research and development (R&D) and manufacturing on behalf of China’s state-owned enterprises (SOE) have evoked concern amongst international speculators, who allege China of weakened intellectual property enforcement and collusive tactics with state-owned enterprises in the cultivation of an anti-competitive marketplace. This thesis applies a trilateral approach to determine the optimal legal, supply chain management, and business strategies to safeguard the intellectual property of high-tech firms with outsourced operations in China.<br/><br/>Firstly, this thesis explores China’s rapid acceleration of manufacturing capabilities in tandem with nationalist initiatives, historical background, and subsequent influence cultural notions; aspirations in attaining global dominance as a high-tech innovator via nationalist programs and incentives. Succeeding is a comparative analysis of intellectual property between the United States and China, associations between intellectual property protection and economic development, and global intellectual property agreeance as set forth by the World Trade Organization (WTO). Following is a legal analysis of China, which assesses legislation, judicial structure, and litigation. Lastly, is an assessment of supply chain management in China, which assesses high-tech outsourcing practices, the vulnerability of intellectual property in research and development, instances of patent infringement, unfair licensing practices, and trade secret misappropriation.

This article serves to provide research and an analysis of the historical and present-day implications of inefficiencies within Albania’s supply chain and economic systems. Several challenges have resulted in a stagnant business environment within the nation despite ample natural resources, an ideal geographic location, and generally acceptable existing infrastructure. There are three major sectors in the Albanian economy that need substantial improvement, including global trade positioning, transport infrastructure, and the tourism sector. Focusing on strategic improvement within these areas will allow the nation to develop value-driving opportunities and should be investigated further to promote industrial growth and improve Albania’s global economic position.

This essay will provide an analysis of the responsiveness of the world's hospitals to the crisis of the COVID 19 pandemic. This analysis will be focused on determining the previous adaptiveness of these hospitals and how they became and can become more adaptable in order to effectively handle the next global crisis that we will face. The essay will first examine some of the underlying issues that existed within healthcare institutions immediately prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. After this, it will next observe some of the general challenges posed by the circumstances of the pandemic, followed by an exploration of what changes took place within hospitals in order to combat these challenges. After this the essay will provide an analysis of the effectiveness of these changes. Lastly, the essay will give recommendations on how international healthcare facilities can take broad steps to be better prepared for the next global health crisis.

Base of the pyramid (BoP) theory was posited in 2002, as a revolutionary method to combine profit and purpose. In this paper the concept of BoP is explored by delving into the development of the idea. Understanding the successes and failures of each iteration provides the opportunity to coalesce the efficacy of BoP. This leads into a dissemination of elements of successful BoP implementations. These elements establish concepts that are vital to any semblance of BoP success. Case studies then develop the complexity and nuance of BoP implementation; establishing there is no cookie-cutter formula for success. Ultimately, base of the pyramid emerges as a much more deeply complicated concept than originally suggested. Despite the ambiguity of BoP, the theory continues to be one of the most viable opportunities for correcting the inequalities of the world.