Q2) Halal Food Logistics and Supply Chain Management in UAE

Adapting to change in the contextual environment is one of the key challenges for managers as they try to ensure the survival and longevity of their organizations. Today, there is a growing recognition that organization's environment can better be considered as turbulent rather than calm. A combination of the challenge of noticing signals, extracting and attributing meaning or making sense of the signals, together with simplistic approaches to help managers analyze the contextual environment explains why organizations are increasingly experiencing jolts, that is, unexpected external shocks from interacting factors in the contextual environment. For example, since the advent or emergent of Halal products and services in the global market space, there have been pressures on governments around the Muslim world to regulate Halal global business to ensure quality assurance through certification. Undoubtedly, Halal global business is not only limited to Halal food business, but also include non-food (pharmaceuticals, toiletries, medical products, medical devices, and cosmetics) and services (logistics, transportation, warehousing, packaging, branding, marketing, supply chain management, media coverage and tourism). Arguably, Halal is a symbol of quality assurance and a lifestyle. As a result, Halal is one of the measures of service quality. Because both Muslims and non-Muslims have accepted Halal-certified products and services as it invokes quality, hygienic, safety, sustainable and wholesome. For these, it is important for firms to analyze the general environment of Halal food logistics and supply chain operations in UAE by using a strategic planning analysis model. Specifically, to analyze the contextual or external environmental factors influencing UAE Halal logistics setting. Assume after your graduation from Ajman University you were offered a lucrative position as a senior supply chain manager with one of the major Halal Food firms in Dubai. Your first assignment is to analysis the external factors influencing Halal food logistics and supply chain. Identify and describe the model you have to use to analyze the contextual environment influencing your firm's business strategy? Please be specific in discussion. (10 points).