Read the description of Seven-Eleven Japan again and consider the following questions:

(a) SEJ stores typically carry around 3000 SKUs (Stock Keeping Units, that is types of different product) compared with a large supermarket that may have over 100,000 SKUs. How do you think this affects their ability to manage their supply chain in an agile manner?

(b) SEJ place a lot of emphasis on the use of their information system to achieve agility. How do you think the way in which an information system is used affects its value to a supply chain?