Gap Analysis between Current and Expected Inventory Management Practices

The assignment explores the current inventory management practices used by warehouses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It highlights the popularity of Just-In-Time (JIT) and cross-docking inventory management practices among UAE warehouses. However, it also identifies a gap between the current usage and expected usage of these practices. The study aims to investigate the gaps in inventory management practices used by UAE warehouses and to identify potential solutions to improve their inventory management systems. To achieve this goal, the researcher will employ a descriptive research approach using both primary and secondary data collection methods.

FINAL RESEARCH PROPOSAL
The effect of inventory management practices on operational performance of
warehousing organizations in UAE
A good start, but see the comments on the research question, work on that and
repost Again
Table of Contents
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................2
Research Questions...................................................................................................................................2
Literature Review......................................................................................................................................3
Role of inventory management practices in Warehousing organizations of UAE............................3

Role of inventory management practices in improving operational performance for warehousing
companies of UAE.................................................................................................................................3
Inventory management practices used by warehousing organizations of UAE................................4
Gap analysis between current and expected inventory management practices................................4
Research Methodology..............................................................................................................................5
Research Approach...............................................................................................................................5
Research Methods.................................................................................................................................5
Research Philosophy..............................................................................................................................6
Research population or sample size.....................................................................................................6
Research Limitations.................................................................................................................................6
Research Timeline or Schedule................................................................................................................7
References..................................................................................................................................................9
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Introduction
This study is centralized towards the research topic “The effect of inventory management
practices on operational performance of warehousing organizations in UAE.” In today’s
scenario, it becomes difficult for UAE organizations to perform effective inventory management
so that raw material presence can manage accordingly. Successful inventory management comes
with an effective plan that provides complete information about the needed material. Apart from
this, it also helps the organization to keep a record of existing material and its use in day to day
business processes. Therefore, it can be said that inventory management practices play an
essential role in improving the operational performance of warehousing and other potential
organizations. There are a lot of researchers who have been explained that the organizations that
followed effective inventory management practices enjoyed better and high net income as an
outcome of improved inventory turnover. Hence, the study is organized with the sole motive to
evaluate the role of inventory management practices in improving organizational performance of
warehousing organizations in UAE. It will provide a clear information on how the organizations
use inventory management practices in current scenario and what are the outcomes that they are
generated through effective use of methods.
Research Objectives
 To find out the role of inventory management practices in warehousing organizations of
UAE
 To investigate the effectiveness of the inventory management practices to improve the
operational performance of warehousing companies of UAE
 To identify the practices of inventory management utilized by warehousing organizations of
UAE
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 To study the difference between the current inventory management practices and expected
inventory management practices of warehousing organization
Research Questions
This study answered the below-mentioned research questions:
 What are the impacts of inventory management practices on operational performance of
warehousing organizations in UAE?
 How can inventory management provide a competitive advantage to the warehousing
organizations of UAE?
Literature Review
Role of inventory management practices in Warehousing organizations of UAE
According to the viewpoint of Prajogo (2016), inventory management practices guides
warehouses of UAE in planning their inventory, allocating resources, assembling consignments,
disposal of goods, pest control, and handling raw material appropriately. Apart from this, the
researcher also said that the inventory management practices helps warehouses firms in the
establishment of a balance between demand and supply of inventory. The inventory management
practices establish balance by providing a clear glimpse about the minimum holding stocks
requirements to cover lead-times. As a result, the warehouses become successful in the
management of the current stock level and avoid unavailability problems in the near future.
Apart from this, Gambi (2015) said that inventory management practices prove a significant
stock movement and control tool for warehousing organizations of UAE which guides them in
the maintenance of monthly stock usage and level of operating stocks.
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Role of inventory management practices in improving operational performance for
warehousing companies of UAE
Wild (2017) conducted a study on the relationship between inventory management practices and
operational performance. The findings of the researcher clearly explained that inventory
management practices come with different money-saving options that helps warehousing
companies of UAE in running a lean operation. Apart from this, inventory management practices
also promote the use of cross-docking and wave picking in warehousing organizations. As a
result, the warehousing firms get a chance to decrease both storage and handling time and save
cost money or the cost of their products or services also. Apart from this, the researcher also
stated that inventory management practices establish a link between inventory levels and
accuracy. It means that warehousing organizations of UAE will deliver a large amount of data by
using a simple system. Hence, the high-level accuracy among operations will enable
warehousing firms to avail prevailing opportunities and satisfy a wide range of customers.
Moreover, inventory management practices also come with a wide range of quality inventory
management software that improves the ultimate quality of final products and services.
Inventory management practices used by warehousing organizations of UAE
Warehouses of UAE utilizes a wide range of inventory management practices to regulate their
operations. Just in time inventory management practice is very popular among them. According
to O’Neill (2016), UAE warehouses use this method to reduce the size of their inventory. The
appropriate use of JIT technique enables the organization to save their inventory holding costs
and eliminate situations where dead stock becomes the reason for unnecessary cost and space
consumption. Apart from this, cross-docking inventory management practice is also common
among warehousing of UAE. The cross-docking inventory management practice permits the
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warehouses of UAE to manage their inventory in a seamless manner and deal with uncertain
problems effectively.
Gap analysis between current and expected inventory management practices
As per the viewpoint of Sadikoglu (2014), warehouses of UAE utilize JIT, cross-docking and
other important inventory management practices. But, there is a certain gap exists between the
current usage and expected usage of inventory management practices. According to the JIT
technique, the warehouses need to reduce the complexity of their shipping system to perform
effective inventory management through cross-docking. But still, most of the warehouses operate
critical shipping system to regulate their supply chain which is not correct.
On the other hand, it is also observed that JIT asks for regular and thorough research into
seasonal demand, the source for reliable suppliers, customer buying habits. But, the organization
becomes a failure in conducting the regular and in-depth analysis. Hence, there is a high
possibility that warehouses somehow earns fewer advantages due to the use of inventory
management practices on a daily basis.
Research Methodology
Research Approach
The study is based on the descriptive research approach. There is a wide range of reasons behind
the selection of a descriptive approach in comparison to others. The first reason is that the study
belongs from mixed methodology where the data will collect through both open-ended and
close-ended questions. Hence, the collected data may be in terms of both qualitative and
quantitative. Descriptive research is only an effective research approach that facilitates the
collection of in-depth qualitative and quantitative data without any mistake. Moreover, Tatoglu
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(2016) said that confidentiality might be in trouble from the descriptive research approach. But,
the study will manage confidentiality through the hiring of honest and trustful staff and research
participants.
Research Methods
The research is based on both the primary and secondary research methodology. Here, the
researcher decided to go with a mixed methodology to gain an in-depth understanding of the
chosen research area. Moreover, another important reason behind the selection of mixed
methodology is the possibility of triangulation. It means that the mixed methodology facilitates
the use of different means like researchers, data sources, and methods to evaluate the chosen
research area.
Research Philosophy
The research philosophy selected for the study is pragmatism. The researcher utilized
pragmatism research philosophy because it will facilitate effective data collection through a wide
range of sources. In comparison to other research philosophies, the researcher with pragmatism
research philosophy can analyze both qualitative and quantitative data effectively to come up
with accurate findings (Khanchanapong, 2014).
Research population or sample size
The sample size for the study is approximate 50 warehousing organizations of UAE. The study
will select some important members from 50 warehousing companies and ask them to fill a
questionnaire. The questionnaire will contain both open-ended and close-ended questions that
directly represents the determined research objective.
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Research Limitations
There are also some research limitations that may influence its ultimate findings. The foremost
limitation is that the study is based on warehousing firms of UAE only. Hence, it will not prove
effective for warehousing firms of other countries. Another limitation is that the sample size for
the study is limited to 50 organizations only. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the researcher to
determine overall findings on the basis of considerations of only 50 organizations.
Research Timeline or Schedule
Task
Mode
Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Auto
Scheduled
Research Project
Timeline
46 days
Tue
12/25/18
Tue 2/26/19
Auto
Scheduled
Decide the research
topic
3 days
Tue
12/25/18
Thu
12/27/18
Auto
Scheduled
Prepare research
proposal draft
5 days Fri 12/28/18 Thu 1/3/19 2
Auto
Scheduled
Ask confirmation from
the approval authority
6 days Fri 1/4/19 Fri 1/11/19 3
Auto
Scheduled
Prepare the final
research proposal
8 days Mon 1/14/19 Wed 1/23/19 4
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Auto
Scheduled
Literature review 4 days Thu 1/24/19 Tue 1/29/19 5
Auto
Scheduled
Write research
methodology
5 days Wed 1/30/19 Tue 2/5/19 6
Auto
Scheduled
Determine potential
reviewers
2 days Wed 2/6/19 Thu 2/7/19 7
Auto
Scheduled
Write an abstract 3 days Fri 2/8/19 Tue 2/12/19 8
Auto
Scheduled
Revise and write a final
research
10 days Wed 2/13/19 Tue 2/26/19 9
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References
Tatoglu, E., Bayraktar, E., Golgeci, I., Koh, S.L., Demirbag, M. and Zaim, S., 2016. How do
supply chain management and information systems practices influence operational performance?
Evidence from emerging country SMEs. International Journal of Logistics Research and
Applications, 19(3), pp.181-199.
Sadikoglu, E. and Olcay, H., 2014. The effects of total quality management practices on
performance and the reasons for and the barriers to TQM practices in Turkey. Advances in
Decision Sciences, 2014.
O’Neill, P., Sohal, A. and Teng, C.W., 2016. Quality management approaches and their impact
on firms׳ financial performance–An Australian study. International Journal of Production
Economics, 171, pp.381-393.
Wild, T., 2017. Best practice in inventory management. Routledge.
Prajogo, D., Oke, A. and Olhager, J., 2016. Supply chain processes: Linking supply logistics
integration, supply performance, lean processes, and competitive performance. International
Journal of Operations & Production Management, 36(2), pp.220-238.
Gambi, L.D.N., Boer, H., Gerolamo, M.C., Jørgensen, F. and Carpinetti, L.C.R., 2015. The
relationship between organizational culture and quality techniques, and its impact on operational
performance. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 35(10), pp.1460-
1484.
Khanchanapong, T., Prajogo, D., Sohal, A.S., Cooper, B.K., Yeung, A.C. and Cheng, T.C.E.,
2014. The unique and complementary effects of manufacturing technologies and lean practices
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on manufacturing operational performance. International Journal of Production Economics, 153,
pp.191-203.
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