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Supply Chain Quarterly editor publishes new book on supply chain dynamics

Protean Supply Chains: Ten Dynamics of Supply and Demand Alignment, by James A. Cooke, argues that supply chains must be capable of changing shape in response to a volatile global business environment.

We're proud to announce that one of our own has a new book out. In June, John Wiley & Sons Inc. published Protean Supply Chains: Ten Dynamics of Supply and Demand Alignment by James A. Cooke, DCV editor at large and chief editor of our sister publication, CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly. He has more than 30 years of experience covering topics that include supply chain trends, strategies and best practices, software, and technology.

Starting with the assertion that supply chains are an overlooked factor behind anemic economic growth, Cooke argues that supply chains must be more than agile or flexible; they must also become "protean"—capable of changing shape in response to a volatile global business environment.


The book examines 10 trends that are shaping supply chain operations worldwide: regional theaters of supply; global risk management through control towers; customer segmentation; real demand realization; omnichannel retailing; demand-swing alignment with production and distribution; "customer of one" service; sustainability challenges; collaboration vs. competition in the new economy; and financial dynamism. The book uses real-world examples combined with insights into the impact of those trends as a backdrop for discussing methods to reduce spending, boost revenues, and streamline operations, as well as the use of protean supply chains to gain competitive advantages internationally.

The book is available in paperback and as an e-book. For a preview and ordering information, click here.

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