Discuss the following topical questions. Be thorough in your response.

1. Considering supply chain inventory management, discuss in detail the conflicting pressures for small and large inventories. Which approach to inventory management is the most logical to you? Justify your answer based upon your reading of the textbook and your experiential learning from the workplace.
2. Considering the nature of supply chain (SC) design, discuss outsourcing processes. Include in your response your understanding of the appropriateness of outsourcing relative to the make-buy decision and vertical integration as these concepts affect managing the overall supply chain. Has the extreme SC disruptions due to the Covid pandemic altered your view and/or your company's view and approach to SC design and outsourcing? If so, how?