INDIVIDUAL CASE STUDY ASSIGNMENT ( PART TIME) INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIP After marking your assessment scripts, I realised that more than half of the class did not perform well. This individual assignment is intended to help students improve their assessment scores. Read each case study carefully and answer all the questions. Case Study One: Cross-Functional Teams and Stakeholder Management Golden Foods Ghana Limited produces and distributes packaged food products across Ghana. Recently, the company has experienced delays in receiving raw materials, frequent stock shortages, rising transportation costs and customer complaints about late deliveries. The Procurement Department blames suppliers for failing to deliver materials on time, while the Warehouse Department blames Procurement for poor purchasing and inventory planning. The Finance Department frequently delays supplier payments, and the Sales Department does not provide accurate demand forecasts. Furthermore, communication between the company, its suppliers, logistics providers, customers and other stakeholders is weak. Management has decided to establish a cross-functional team to address these challenges and improve the company’s supply chain performance. Questions Identify and classify the main stakeholders in the case as internal, external or connected stakeholders. Explain the interest of each stakeholder in the company’s supply chain. Identify the departments that should be represented on the cross-functional team and explain the specific contribution each department would make towards solving the problems. Recommend five practical strategies Golden Foods Ghana Limited should adopt to improve stakeholder communication, collaboration and overall supply chain performance. Submission Instructions • The assignment must be completed individually. • The assignment must be typed and printed. • Submission mode: In person • Submission venue: My office on campus (Room 103) • Submission date: 23 July 2026 • Submission time: 7:00 a.m. to 4;00 p.m. • Late submissions may not be accepted. Please incase of any confusion, kindly contact the reps. Thank you 😊

Here are the answers to your case study questions:

1) Stakeholder Identification and Classification

• Internal Stakeholders:

  • Procurement Department: Interested in timely and quality raw material supply to avoid operational delays.
  • Warehouse Department: Interested in efficient inventory management, accurate stock levels, and smooth material flow to prevent shortages.
  • Finance Department: Interested in managing cash flow, ensuring timely payments to suppliers, and controlling costs.
  • Sales Department: Interested in accurate demand forecasting, product availability, and timely deliveries to meet customer expectations and sales targets.
  • Management: Interested in overall company performance, profitability, customer satisfaction, and efficient supply chain operations.

• External Stakeholders:

  • Suppliers: Interested in consistent orders, timely payments, and clear communication regarding material requirements.
  • Logistics Providers: Interested in clear delivery schedules, efficient loading/unloading processes, and fair compensation for services.
  • Customers: Interested in receiving high-quality products on time, accurate orders, and responsive customer service.

• Connected Stakeholders: (While not explicitly detailed, these are generally present in a company)

  • Shareholders/Investors: Interested in the company's financial performance, profitability, and return on investment, which are directly impacted by supply chain efficiency.
  • Regulators/Government: Interested in compliance with food safety standards, labor laws, and fair business practices.

2) Cross-Functional Team Representation and Contribution

The following departments should be represented on the cross-functional team:

• Procurement Department:
  • Contribution: Will provide insights into supplier relationships, contract terms, and material sourcing challenges. They can work on improving supplier selection, performance monitoring, and communication protocols.
• Warehouse Department:
  • Contribution: Will offer expertise on inventory levels, storage capacity, and internal material handling. They can help optimize inventory planning and identify bottlenecks in stock movement.
• Finance Department:
  • Contribution: Will manage budget allocation for supply chain improvements and ensure timely processing of supplier payments. They can help develop payment terms that support supplier relationships.
• Sales Department:
  • Contribution: Will provide crucial data on customer demand and market trends. They can improve forecasting accuracy, which is vital for effective purchasing and inventory planning.
• Logistics/Operations Department (if separate from Warehouse):
  • Contribution: Will focus on transportation efficiency, delivery routes, and coordination with logistics providers to reduce costs and improve delivery times.
• IT Department (optional but beneficial):
  • Contribution: Can implement and manage supply chain management (SCM) software or communication platforms to improve data sharing and collaboration.

3) Strategies to Improve Supply Chain Performance

Golden Foods Ghana Limited should adopt these five practical strategies:

• Implement a Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) Program: Develop stronger, more collaborative relationships with key suppliers through regular performance reviews, joint planning, and clear communication channels to ensure timely material delivery.
• Enhance Demand Forecasting Accuracy: Utilize advanced analytics and historical sales data, combined with input from the Sales Department, to create more precise demand forecasts, reducing stock shortages and overstocking.
• Optimize Inventory Management Systems: Implement an integrated inventory management system that provides real-time visibility of stock levels across the supply chain, enabling better planning and reducing carrying costs.
• Improve Internal Cross-Departmental Communication: Establish regular cross-functional meetings and use shared digital platforms to ensure all departments (Procurement, Warehouse, Finance, Sales) have access to consistent, up-to-date information and can coordinate effectively.
• Invest in Logistics and Transportation Optimization: Review and renegotiate contracts with logistics providers, explore alternative transportation routes, or invest in route optimization software to reduce transportation costs and improve delivery reliability.