Author: Sime Curkovic

It might be better to watch my lecture video first before reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EePQkl7Lwws&t=180s I think getting an internship at Coyote Logistics (CL) would be an excellent opportunity for ISM students in general.  Just keep in mind that non asset based 3PLs such as CL, CH Robinson, TQL, etc., recruit across all majors, especially general management, general marketing, and sales marketing.  I would prefer that students work for companies that pay...

When you ask a current or potential supplier to submit an RFQ (Request for Quotation), you are asking them to bid on some business.  You are basically saying to a supplier – I have some business for you, and I am requesting that you give me a quote on that business.  As a buyer, you have every legal right to say you want a “cost breakdown” of the price they...

I had a student email me with this work situation.  How would you handle this situation? Our current supplier is a small subsidiary of a parent company that is considered very high risk by our credit and finance group. They do not want us to do business with this supplier because based on their financials the parent company could easily go bankrupt. The problem is this supplier is very cheap...

Global Negotiation: The fastest growing class in supply chain programs.The Institute of Supply Management identifies negotiation as the most important skill of SCM professionals and yet the weakest in terms of delivery. However, not at WMU. In fact, our supply chain majors (a Top 10 program) take the class with Sales majors (another Top 10 program)! Do you see the synergy? Our case-based negotiation course is taught in conjunction with...

I make students do this every semester... I would like you to tell me about yourself that sells me on you.  Instead of a sales organization (see attached template, contact me for a copy), convince me that a potential employer (or professor) would be interested in you. It is the kind of thing you would do if you walked into a room at the career fair.  I will watch it...

Typically, buying organizations will use several rounds of the competitive bidding process to pick a low cost supplier. Buying organizations will send out RFQs to get bids from suppliers. RFQ stands for a Request for Quotation. In other words, please give us a quote for this business. Unfortunately, several iterations of the competitive bidding process can be very resource intensive, especially for smaller companies. Larger companies have been able to...

https://wmich.edu/business/doing-things-better-faster-cheaper-living-american-dream Doing things better, faster and cheaper and living the American dream Dr. Sime Curkovic grew up surrounded by industry in Lansing, Michigan. He is the son of immigrant parents who came to the United States from what is now Croatia. Once in Michigan, his father was told, “If you are looking for the American dream, go to this factory, fill out an application and work hard.” Determined to succeed,...