Objective: Recognize the role of emerging technologies for improving supply chain information management. Advancements in technology have enabled organizations to have greater visibility within the supply chain. Software programs have provided organizations centralizing data and management tools, with the usage of a single program. With the aid of advanced software programs, organizations can greater plan and communicate throughout the supply chain. Greater visibility and communication allow the organization to forecast and plan throughout the supply chain. Greater control is passed on to cost savings and availability to the customer. Prepare a written response to the Case Questions for Case 14.2, Vintage Shoes, Inc provided in your Langley textbook on page 567. To achieve maximum points for this assignment, o Complete the four Case Questions following the case study with 1-2 well developed paragraphs for each question. Vintage Shoes Inc. (VSI) is an authorized manufacturer of replica athletic shoes from the 1960s and 1970s. The Portland-based company produces running shoes and basketball shoes based on the styles of popular Converse, Pro Keds, and Puma shoes from those eras. The shoes are manufactured in Nam Dihn, Vietnam, shipped to the United States, and sold by boutique retailers. Demand skyrocketed after celebrities began wearing VSI shoes with tuxedos at the Grammy awards, the Met Gala, and the Academy Awards. Chucky Taylor, the company's CEO, just received a call from the largest athletic shoe manufacturer in the world about recreating its Cortez waffle-soled running shoes for sale in company stores. It would be a coup for VSI and send sales into the stratosphere. The call was going well until the potential client asked about the integration level of VSI's supply chain information system. Chucky explained that VSI had a home-grown warehouse management system and order management tools but relied heavily on their international freight forwarder for transpor- tation planning and execution. He explained that none of these systems were effectively inte and required quite a bit of manual data transfer. The potential client was momentarily silent and then explained: We require contract manufacturers like VSI to conduct all transactions electronically, provide end-to-end vis- ibility of inbound freight, and be moving toward digitized supply chain capabilities. Can you get to that level of technology sophistication within the next six to nine months? Without much thought, Chucky replied: I have full confidence in our technology team and we will be ready by the time your first order drops. After the call concluded, Chucky said to his colleagues: I don't even know what a digi- tized supply chain is. How are we going to make this happen so quickly? 1. Give Chucky some insights by explaining the concept of a digitized supply chain and how it will help VSI? 2. What types of software will help VSI comply with the potential client's supply chain requirements? What features and capabilities are needed? 3. Should VSI continue on its path of in-house SCIS development or shift to external software vendors? Explain your reasoning. 4. What types of SCIS implementation challenges and delays might VSI encounter