Agile, online supply chains

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach Viewpoint. Findings Fisher reports an increase in mobile and work-at-home jobs occurred in 2013. This trend is expected to continue as companies strive to be more competitive on a global scale. Service-oriented firms are not the only ones to benefit from supply chain flexibility strategies. Apple and Dell are both wildly successful and are considered highly flexible firms. One general complaint from all virtual workers is connectivity issues. This is inherent with the position. Locations in third world countries are more susceptible to online issues. If a constant source of electricity or internet availability is an issue, it goes without saying that workers’ productivity will be affected. So far, this potential downfall has not proven a major problem for companies. Will other companies follow the leader and begin using more remote access positions within their firms? If they value the knowledge from benchmarking, then yes. Rather they should, as long as they possess the needed resources. Practical implications The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.