Whether we call it purchasing, procurement, supply chain management, sourcing or buying $-$ it is evident those activities, tactics and strategies associated with such terms are of great importance to organizations globally. Observing job advertisement, skilled and highly educated purchasers and supply managers are in demand. Hence, academia practice work together to grow the function as there remain many challenges and possibilities for improvements in strategic supply chain management t might also provide a presentation of a coming generation of procurement professionals.

In the course of time the role and character of purchasing has been changing constantly. Traditionally, procurement was seen as merely supportive and supplementary operational activity with little significance on a firms performance. During the $1970$s procurement departments had a more administrative than strategic character.

During $1980$s a connection between organizational strategy and a companys performance was established. A previously operational and unimportant activity was recognized as being tactical. Purchasing became more and more integrated to covered the involvement of purchasing in product, process and supplier selection and contracting. However, in the following years firms further realized the increasing importance of managing the supply base effectively and efficiently.

The evolution of purchasing makes clear that conventionally purchasing was intended to buy the materials of the right quality, in the quantity, from the right source delivered to the right place at the right time at the right place. This approach however conveys a rather reactive strategy of purchasing where the focus is on tractions rather than on relations and also more on an operational level rather on a tactical level rather than on a strategic one. This case study identified three purchasing roles on various management level.

Globalization has influenced the business environment during the last decades. Disappearing boarders and the emergence of an international market place led to increasing competition to which companies had to adopt their strategy, especially in the field of purchasing. International markets offer the opportunity of saving costs on the buyer side and on the selling side globalization provides access to new markets. Hence, organization realized that globalization and sourcing on a global level with more collaborative supplier relationships represent key strategic items in order to gain competitive advantage. Nonetheless, there are also risks resulting from implementing a global strategic supply chain.

Required:

a$)$ Summarize the findings mentioned in this case study $(5$ Marks$).$

b$)$ By use of a suitable diagram illustrate the evolution of strategic supply chain pointed out in this case study $(5$ Marks$).$

c$)$ Define the term strategic supply chain management according to this study $(5$ Marks$).$