This unique Dartmouth University course takes a team-based approach to the challenge of creating new strategies for the e-business world. Participants will attend with at least three other managers from their company as a cross-functional team.

The program centers on e-business's effect on the supply chain and consists of three sequential modules. The first, "Transitioning to e-Business," focuses on new Internet-enabled business models and their impact on supply chain management. The second module, "Reinventing the Supply Chain in the e-Business Age," looks at new supply chain concepts and tools, such as data mining, supplier hubs, and third-party logistics. Course work also will investigate how to manage the change to an e-business culture.

As part of the third module, the company teams will present the "action learning projects" that they have been working on outside of class. These involve real-world problems associated with the successful transition to an e-business.

Transforming the Supply Chain: Strategies for e-Business

Sponsor: Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth

Dates: Sept. 17–21, 2000; Nov. 12–15, 2000; Feb. 12–13, 2001 (participants should attend all three sessions)

Venue: Hanover, N.H.

Cost: $48,000 for four-member team; $55,000 for five-member team; $60,000 for six-member team

Contact: Dartmouth at (603) 646-1801

Many of the obstacles to effective supply chain performance fall under the category of organizational or general management problems. These include issues associated with organizational structure, change management, incentive alignment, and sales and implementation processes.

In response to these challenges, the Harvard Business School has developed a new executive education program, "Managing the Supply Chain: The General Manager's Perspective." The course focuses not on tools and algorithms but on how to manage and coordinate multiple activities across space and time. Harvard Business School faculty will address three main themes: managing the supply chain for competitive advantage, coordination and control of the supply chain, and supply chain management in the new economy.

The course provides a field-based, cross-functional perspective on supply chain management. It's designed to help participants understand their role in improving supply chain performance and effectively manage changes that affect both internal and external relationships.

Managing the Supply Chain: The General Manager's Perspective

Sponsor: Harvard Business School

Dates: Aug. 27–Sept. 1, 2000

Venue: Boston

Cost: $6,500, includes accommodations, materials, and meals

Contact: Harvard Business School at (617) 495-6226 or visit www.exed.hbs.edu

At last year's Council of Logistics Management (CLM) conference, attendance at the e-commerce sessions was standing room only. In response to this intense interest, CLM has titled its 2000 Annual Conference "redefininglogistics.com."

Five session tracks will be devoted solely to e-commerce issues: "e-Commerce: Business-to-Business," "e-Commerce: Business-to-Consumer," "e-Commerce: Strategies," "Logistics Issues in e-Business," and "Principles of e-Commerce." A number of others will focus on emerging technology and software trends.

The keynote addresses also will have a strong technology focus. Leading science and technology forecaster Daniel Burrus will speak on "Futureview: A Look Ahead," and the president of LeanLogistics.com, Craig Hall, will discuss "The Internet: Implications for Logistics."

CLM, however, will not be ignoring "traditional" supply chain issues. Other sessions will address topics such as collaborative planning, measuring logistics in the supply chain, supply chain finance, and sourcing strategies.

CLM 2000 Annual Conference: redefininglogistics.com

Sponsor: Council of Logistics Management

Dates: Sept. 24–27, 2000

Venue: New Orleans

Cost: $975 for members; $1,225 for nonmembers

Contact: CLM at (630) 574-0985 or visit www.clm1.org

HK Systems envisions its 2000 users' conference as a place to share knowledge on implementing, integrating, and maintaining equipment and software applications.

The conference offers more than 40 sessions along three tracks covering supply chain software, materials handling, services, and capabilities. These sessions will include case studies detailing the steps of planning, engineering, and executing a systems implementation.

Additionally, the conference will include an exhibit area, software workshops, and discussion sessions.

2000 HK Systems Users' Conference

Sponsor: HK Systems

Dates: Sept. 24–27, 2000

Venue: Park City, Utah

Cost: $325 before Aug. 25, 2000; $425 after Aug. 25, 2000; includes materials and meals

Contact: HK Systems at (262) 860-6404 or visit www.hksystems.com/user2000/

Managing the supply chain across national borders demands new skills, new techniques, new performance measures, and a new mindset. This course by Cranfield University in England will help participants prepare for these cultural, organizational, and information-management changes.

Workshop sessions will explore the drivers of globalization both in Europe and around the world. They will investigate how companies are responding to the globalization trend, examining both the success stories and obstacles to cross-border logistics. Participants also will learn about organizational and cultural issues as well as the business opportunities and obstacles typically encountered.

This course is designed for managers responsible for the development and implementation of strategic change across borders.

Supply Chain Globalisation

Sponsor: Cranfield University

Dates: Sept. 25–26, 2000

Venue: Bedford, England

Cost: £ 1,320

Contact: Cranfield at 44 (0) 1234 754505 or visit www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/executive

The 2000 APICS International Conference and Exposition boasts more than 140 educational sessions on topics ranging from supply chain management, to production and inventory management, to the Internet and the World Wide Web.

The conference will address key issues such as how to apply the latest systems and technology, how to implement global business strategies, and how to succeed in a changing environment while maintaining a competitive market position.

Keynote speakers include General Colin L. Powell, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and William (Gus) Pagonis, executive vice president of logistics for Sears, Roebuck and Company.

APICS International Conference and Exposition

Sponsor: APICS

Dates: Oct. 22–25, 2000

Venue: Orlando, Fla.

Cost: $975 for members; $1,225 for non-members

Contact: APICS at (800) 444-2742 or visit www.apics.org

Managers are faced with so many new ideas for leveraging the supply chain that it's often difficult to choose the right innovation for their particular operation. This University of Pennsylvania program attempts to help participants tailor their supply chain capabilities to give their companies a competitive edge.

The course is based on a framework developed by UPenn faculty member Marshall Fisher. Fisher used this framework to help companies such as Sport Obermeyer, Campbell Soup, Spiegel, and Hewlett-Packard successfully redesign their supply chains. The program relies heavily on first-hand accounts by executives from these and other companies.

Participants will learn how to achieve high product variety and high inventory turns and how to cope with demand uncertainty and improve forecasts. They also will gain a deeper understanding of supply chain concepts such as efficient consumer response, quick response, accurate response, postponement, and customization.

Supply Chain Management: Creating Competitive Advantage

Sponsor: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Dates: Sept. 24–29, 2000

Venue: Philadelphia

Cost: $6,450, includes accommodations and meals

Contact: UPenn at (800) 255-3932 (U.S. and Canada) or (215) 898-1776 (worldwide) or visit www.wharton.upenn.edu/execed/

The University of Wisconsin's School of Business is offering a series of five one-day seminars on "Excellence in Logistics and Supply Chain Management." This series is adapted from cutting-edge topics covered at the Council of Logistics Management's annual conference.

The first three programs in the series will focus respectively on "How to Build a Powerful Logistics Customer Satisfaction Improvement Process," "Logistics Strategy and Supply Chain Reengineering: Preparing Your Business for Quality Performance," and "Quantifying and Benchmarking the Value of the Supply Chain." The last two sessions are on "Outsourcing Logistics Services and Building High-Performance Business Relationships" and "Impact of Business Opportunities on Logistics Strategy and Supply Chain Practices."

Participants can attend sessions on a stand-alone basis or as a full set to earn an Excellence in Logistics and Supply Chain Management certification.

Excellence in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Council of Logistics Management

Dates: July 24–28, 2000

Venue: Madison, Wis.

Cost: $550 for one session

Contact: University of Wisconsin at (800) 348-8964 or visit uwexeced.com

The National Association of Purchasing Management (NAPM) offers a two-day program on "How to Develop and Maintain a World-Class Supply Chain." This program outlines a structured approach for incorporating best practices, change-management principles, and strategies for supply chain management.

The program will help participants perform analyses of their company's organization, expenditures, commodities, and systems. Participants also will learn how to develop a sound infrastructure, thorough program policies and procedures, and competitive bids.

According to NAPM, this course can help purchasing and supply management professionals make a stronger impact on their organization's profitability.

How to Develop and Maintain a World-Class Supply Chain

Sponsor: National Association of Purchasing Management

Dates: Aug. 10–11, 2000

Venue: Dallas

Cost: $895 NAPM members; $1,095 for nonmembers

Contact: NAPM at 800-888-6276 or visit www.napm.org

A corporate portal is a new tool that compiles a wide variety of information and applications together on one Web site for an enterprise's customers, employees, and partners. DCI, a high-tech education company, promises that its Corporate Portals Conference will provide practical guidance on how to use this new technology.

This conference provides participants with both a complete understanding of corporate portals and real-world case studies. Session leaders will explain how to select the functional requirements and implementation strategies that best fit the participant's needs. This knowledge will help them evaluate and select different vendor offerings.

The sessions are divided into two tracks: (1) business and technology and (2) implementation. Specific sessions of interest to supply chain professionals include portals for supply and demand management and optimizing supply chain management.

The conference also offers vendor exhibits and pre- and post-conference seminars.

The Corporate Portals Conference

Sponsors: DCI and The Yankee Group

Dates: Aug. 8–10, 2000; Oct. 31–Nov. 2, 2000

Venues: Boston, Chicago

Cost: $1,195 conference only; $1,395 conference and either the pre- or post-conference seminar; $1,595 conference and both pre- and post-conference seminars

Contact: DCI at (978) 470-3880 or visit www.dci.com

Web-based technology is simplifying the process of delivering the right goods to the right place at the right time. At the same time, logistics professionals are struggling to figure out how to incorporate this technology into the existing business model.

In the face of this need, the International Quality & Productivity Center is offering a two-day conference on e-logistics. It will address how winning organizations are reengineering their business processes to capitalize on e-commerce. Seminars will examine such issues as measuring the effectiveness of a Web-enabled supply chain, creating real-time supply chains, implementing a global information system, and leveraging electronic data interchange using the Internet.

Session speakers come from both traditional industry leaders (Hewlett-Packard, Fossil, and Whirlpool) and start-ups (Petstore.com, Varsitybooks.com, and Guild.com). Key vendors, such as Viewlocity and Descartes, also lead presentations as well.

The conference also features workshops on building a successful e-commerce business, implementing supply chain management with data warehousing, and strategy-based distribution.

e-Logistics: Capitalizing on Internet Technology for Improved Supply Chain Performance

Sponsor: International Quality & Productivity Center (IQPC)

Dates: July 31–Aug. 1, 2000

Venue: Chicago

Cost: $1,599 conference only; $1,999 for conference and one workshop; $2,399 for conference and two workshops; $2,699 for conference and three workshops

Contact: IQPC at (800) 882-8684 or visit www.iqpc.com

APICS, the educational society for resource management, offers a three-day workshop on the basic concepts of supply chain management. This course will have a heavy manufacturing focus.

The course will review key concepts such as master planning, inventory management, forecasting, just-in-time manufacturing, and total quality management. Participants also will look into materials-requirements planning, capacity management, and production activity control.

APICS designed the course for employees new to their supply chain management roles.

Basics of Supply Chain Management

Sponsor: APICS

Dates: Aug. 14–16, 2000; Sept. 11–13, 2000; Nov. 13–15, 2000; December 4–6, 2000

Venues: Chicago, Denver, Phoenix, and San Diego

Cost: $965 for APICS members; $1,135 for nonmembers

Contact: APICS at (800) 444-2742 or visit www.apics.org

The Internet business model has placed intense pressure on companies to join together in constellations of external and internal alliances. Though these alliances are similar to those formed under the old bricks-and-mortar model, the new partnerships must be formed at the speed of "e."

California Institute of Technology has created a program that investigates alliance formation in the electronic age. According to Cal Tech, successful e-alliances—or "fast alliances"—depend upon applying the best practices of alliance formation, creating a new value proposition, and driving execution through effective leadership.

Speakers will discuss the following topics: partnering approaches that work in e-commerce and how they differ from non—e-commerce applications, success factors for bricks-and-mortar companies that want to operate in the e-economy, and how to co-exist with legacy systems and culture. The course looks at decision-making in fast alliances, how to prepare a company for fast alliances, and the four life-cycle stages of fast alliances.

The e-Business Alliance Program

Sponsor: Cal Tech

Dates: Aug. 24, 2000; Nov. 1, 2000

Venue: Pasadena, Calif.

Cost: $1,095, includes materials, parking, and some meals

Contact: Cal Tech at (626) 395-4043 or visit www.irc.caltech.edu

"E-B2B: Winning in the Digital Economy," presented by Columbia University, will provide managers with models and tools for capitalizing on the e-business revolution. It will help them better understand how the digital economy affects business-to-business systems, customer relationships, and corporate infrastructure.

The course will review the benefits of becoming an e-business, including the increased cost savings, efficiencies, and value-added services. Participants also will discuss the role of branding in the digital economy and the importance of managing the online experience. They will learn how to manage the digital supply chain and address what benchmarking procedures to use.

Through bootcamps and brainstorming sessions, the program will enable participants to develop long-term plans for their organization. The last day of the program will look forward to the "next big thing."

e-B2B: Winning in the Digital Economy

Sponsor: Columbia University

Dates: Aug. 14–16, 2000

Venue: New York City

Cost: $3,750, includes some meals and materials

Contact: Columbia at (212) 854-3395 or visit www.gsb.columbia.edu/execed