1. Globalization and technology developments have led to some significant changes in the global economy. Discuss the importance of such changes to the United States. What is the impact upon supply chains?

2. The consolidation that has developed at the retail end of many supply chains has had an important impact. What changes have occurred in supply chain management because of retail consolidation and the related power shift?

3. What is meant by the current description of the global economy that "time and distance have been compressed"? Do you agree? What has been the impact of this compression?

4. How does logistics add value in the economy? How does logistics add value for firms? What, if any are the differences?

5. Physical distribution has a special relationship to marketing. What is the nature of the relationship between logistics and marketing and why is it growing in importance?