Describe the four stages of operations and supply chain alignment with business strategy

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: The four stages of alignment are internally neutral, externally neutral, internally supportive, and externally supportive. The internally neutral stage is more of a defensive strategy, where management seeks only to minimize any negative potential in the operations and supply chain areas. There is no effort made to link these areas with the business strategy. In the externally neutral stage, industry practice is followed with no effort made to link the operations and supply chain areas with overall business strategy. There is an assumption made that whatever works for competitors will work for the company. The internally supportive stage features recognition that operations and supply chain structural and infrastructural elements must be aligned with the business strategy. Operations and supply chain areas participate in the strategic debate. In the externally supportive stage the operations and supply areas do more than just support the business strategy — the business strategy actively seeks to exploit the core competencies found within these areas.