- Feets is a chain of athletic wear retail stores that uses third-party logistics to transport goods from warehouses to stores. They have experienced issues supplying a new store with many unique products. - Buyers forecast demand and order from vendors 6-12 months in advance, which is difficult given fast changing fashion trends. About 80% of products each year are new, and items are not replenished but instead purchased for a single season. - Feets uses an automated system to replenish store inventory levels from central warehouses based on daily sales data uploads. However, limited replenishment stock can cause stockouts when popular items sell out. Physical inventories are taken twice yearly to ensure inventory accuracy.

1. Revised Prospectus Submission
View Rubric
Due Date: Jul 26, 2017 23:59:59 Max Points: 75
Details:
A key disposition of doctoral learners is that they value critical
thinking and feedback, possessing an openness to new ideas,
ready to challenge assumptions and consider other viewpoints.
In this assignment, you will use the feedback from your Chair
and Methodologist as garnered in your conference call last week
to revise your research prospectus for your Chair to review and
score.
General Requirements:
Use the following information to ensure successful completion
of the assignment:
· Locate the most current version of the prospectus template in
the DC Network.
· This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior
to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the
expectations for successful completion.
· Doctoral learners are required to use APA style for their
writing assignments. The APA Style Guide is located in the
Student Success Center.
· This assignment requires that at least two additional scholarly
research sources related to this topic, and at least one in-text
citation from each source be
· You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please
refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
Directions:
Consider the feedback on your research prospectus given to you
by your Chair and Methodologist during last week's conference
call.
Submit a revised draft of your research prospectus that

2. integrates the feedback from your Chair and Methodologist. The
draft should incorporate all revisions made since your prior
submission. Be sure to use the most current version of the
prospectus template.
Rubric
· INTRODUCTION: This section briefly overviews the research
focus or problem, why this study is worth conducting, and how
this study will be completed. This Introduction section
elaborates on Point #1(the Topic) from the 10 Strategic Points.
(1 paragraph)
Component is addressed clearly and comprehensively. No gaps
are present that leave the reader with question
· BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM: The background section
explains both the history of and the present state of the problem
and research focus. This Background of the Problem section
uses information from Point #2 (Literature Review) in the 10
Strategic Points. (2-3 paragraphs)
Component is addressed clearly and comprehensively. No gaps
are present that leave the reader with questions.
· THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS AND/OR CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEWORK: This section identifies the theory(s) or model(s)
that provide the foundation for the research. This section should
present the theory(s) or models(s) and explain how the problem
under investigation relates to the theory or model. The theory(s)
or models(s) guide the research questions and justify what is
being measured (variables) as well as how those variables are
related (quantitative) or the phenomena being investigated
(qualitative). This section uses information from Point #2
(Literature Review) from the 10 Strategic Points. (1 paragraph)
Component is addressed clearly and comprehensively. No gaps
are present that leave the reader with questions.
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE THEMES/TOPICS: This
section lists the major themes or topics related to the research
topic. It provides a short one-two sentence description of each
theme/topic and identifies its relevance to the research topic

3. supporting it with at least one citation from the literature. This
section uses information from Point #2 (Literature Review)
from the 10 Strategic Points. (1-2 two sentences per
theme/topic). Component is addressed clearly and
comprehensively. No gaps are present that leave the reader with
questions.
PROBLEM STATEMENT: This section includes the problem
statement, the population affected, and how the study will
contribute to solving the problem. This section elaborates on
Points #3 (Problem Statement) from the 10 Strategic Points. (1
paragraph).
Component is addressed clearly and comprehensively. No gaps
are present that leave the reader with questions.
· RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND/OR HYPOTHESES: This
section narrows the focus of the study by specifying the
research questions to address the problem statement. Based on
the research questions, it describes the variables and/or groups
and their hypothesized relationship for a quantitative study or
the phenomena under investigation for a qualitative study.
Recommended minimum: ? 2 research questions along with
related hypotheses and variables for a quantitative study. ? 2
research questions along with the phenomenon description for a
qualitative study This section elaborates on Points #5 (Research
Questions) & #6 Hypothesis/variables or Phenomena) from the
10 Strategic Points. (2-3 paragraphs).
Component is addressed clearly and comprehensively. No gaps
are present that leave the reader with questions.
· SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: This section identifies and
describes the significance of the study and the implications of
the potential results based on the research questions and
problem statement, hypotheses, or the investigated phenomena.
It describes how the research fits within and will contribute to
the current literature or body of research. It describes potential
practical applications from the research. This section does not
directly come from any section of the 10 Strategic Points.

4. However it does build on the Background to the Problem,
Problem Statement and Theoretical Foundations sections that
are developed from the 10 Strategic Points. (1 paragraph).
Component is addressed clearly and comprehensively. No gaps
are present that leave the reader with questions.
· RATIONALE FOR METHODOLOGY: This section clearly
justifies the methodology the researcher plans to use for
conducting the study. It argues how the methodological
framework is the best approach to answer the research questions
and address the problem statement. It uses citations from
textbooks and articles on research methodology and/or articles
on related studies. This section elaborates on the methodology
part of Point #7 (Methodology and Design) in the 10 Strategic
Points. (1 paragraph and completion of Table 1 or 2 in
Appendix B).
Component is addressed clearly and comprehensively. No gaps
are present that leave the reader with questions.
· NATURE OF THE RESEARCH DESIGN FOR THE STUDY:
This section describes the specific research design to answer the
research questions and why this approach was selected. It
describes the research sample being studied as well as the
process that will be used to collect the data on the sample. This
section also elaborates on the Design part of Point #7
(Methodology and Design) in the 10 Strategic Points. (1
paragraph and completion of Table 1 or 2 in Appendix B).
Component is addressed clearly and comprehensively. No gaps
are present that leave the reader with questions.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The purpose statement section
provides a reflection of the problem statement and identifies
how the study will be accomplished. It explains how the
proposed study will contribute to the field. This section
elaborates on Points #8 (Purpose Statement) in the 10 Strategic
Points. (1 paragraph).
Component is addressed clearly and comprehensively. No gaps
are present that leave the reader with questions.

5. · INSTRUMENTATION OR SOURCES OF DATA: Describes,
in detail, all data collection instruments and sources (tests,
questionnaires, interviews, data bases, media, etc.). Discusses
the specific instrument or source to collect data for each
variable or group (quantitative study). Discusses specific
instrument or source to collect information to describe the
phenomena being studied (qualitative study). This section
elaborates on Point #9 (Data Collection) from the 10 Strategic
Points. (1 paragraph and completion of Table 1 or 2 in
Appendix B.
DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES: This section details the
entirety of the process used to collect the data. It describes each
step of the data collection process in a way that another
researcher could replicate the study. This section elaborates on
Points #4 (Sample and Location) and #9 (Data Collection) in the
10 Strategic Points. (2 paragraphs) Component is addressed
clearly and comprehensively. No gaps are present that leave the
reader with questions.
DATA ANALYSIS PROCEDURES: This section describes how
the data was collected for each variable or group (quantitative
study) or for each research question (qualitative study). It
describes the type of data to be analyzed, identifying the
descriptive, inferential, and/or non-statistical analyses.
Demonstrates that the research analysis is aligned to the
specific research design. This section elaborates on Point #10
(Data Analysis) from the 10 Strategic Points. (1 paragraph and
completion of Table 1 or 2 in Appendix B).
Component is addressed clearly and comprehensively. No gaps
are present that leave the reader with questions.
· ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: This section discusses the
potential ethical issues surrounding the research as well as how
human subjects and data will be protected. It identifies how any

6. potential ethical issues will be addressed. This section does not
use information from any of the 10 Strategic Points. (1
paragraph)
Component is addressed clearly and comprehensively. No gaps
are present that leave the reader with questions.
SCM645 Scenario A
Feets
Introduction
Feets is a chain of retail athletic wear stores. The company
headquarters is located in Sacramento, California, near the
western warehouse. There are seven geographically dispersed
warehouses to serve the needs of Feets’ 400 stores. Tedra Grav,
supply chain vice president, had this to say about the Fashion
Squared store, a new location in Sacramento.
“The product mix in the Fashion Squared store is new to Feets.
There are many new products and many new vendors. Our
western distribution center is set up to serve the set of stores in
California. It was not set up for all these new products and new
vendors. This has caused us problems because of the small
quantities of some of these new products, which are not used in
any other store. All of this may cause us problems in the
upcoming summer sports season. I have informed the rest of the
management team of the nature of these problems.”
Third-Party Logistics
Feets uses third-party logistics firms to move the goods from
warehouse to store. With the exception of the Fashion Squared
store’s daily shipments, the stores receive orders twice weekly.
Feets uses a small package carrier to make transshipments
between stores.
Tedra feels efficiency as opposed to responsiveness in the Feets

7. supply chain is important. As is common in retailing, buyers
forecast trends, determine how those trends affect demand at the
stores, and order from vendors accordingly. Efficiency is
important, so vendors ship large quantities to the Feets
warehouse relatively infrequently. The warehouse has a
computer program to help team members determine where to
store these large quantities of goods as they are received.
Buyers
A buyer specializes in one or more departments depending upon
volume, allowing the buyer to be familiar with the products.
This allows for better identification of customer demand and
utilization of supplier’s manufacturing practice knowledge.
Feets’ business is very fashion oriented. Each year, 80% percent
of the product that comes into the distribution center is new.
Even if the product is very similar to one ordered last year, it is
considered new. Customers demand new colors and styles;
product is normally not replenished. Instead, a particular item is
purchased, distributed to the retail stores, and sold. As a result,
determining the amount to be purchased can be difficult. The
buyers can look at how a similar product sold last year.
However, that may be misleading due to changes in taste.
The normal lead time quoted by a supplier is 6 months even
though it only takes 2 to 3 months for the company to produce
the product. The buyer is faced with anticipating what will be in
demand 6 to 12 months into the future. These difficulties are
compounded by the life of a new style being less than 6 months.
The buyers determine the order quantity from forecasts of
demand done at the store level. The historical distribution of
sizes sold at each store is part of the calculation and then
adjusted by projections made by each store. The supplier
collects orders for all stores at one time. If too many items are
ordered, then the result is to discount the item at an outlet store

8. for discontinued styles. If too few items are ordered, there is no
chance to reorder.
When orders arrive from the supplier, the majority of product is
immediately shipped to the store. The amount distributed is
calculated from the original order with adjustments made for
store closings and new openings. The remaining order, about
40%, is stored in the warehouse to be used for replenishment.
Inventory Replenishment
Feets has an automated replenishment ordering system. The way
this works is that the computer at the distribution center collects
data from each store about what was sold that day. There are
two systems for collecting the data. Some stores have a high-
speed Internet connection and transmit sales data in near real
time. Other stores have only dial-up connections and transmit
their data once per day. Once the data have been collected, the
computer calculates the amount of inventory in each store by
SKU. That inventory level is compared against predetermined
minimums, and any replenishment is placed in an order.
Because the buyers place just one order for any particular style
during the course of a season, available stock for replenishment
is limited. Consequently, when inventory on that item is
exhausted, no more replacements can be done. At this point,
transshipments between stores help Feets meet the demands of
its customers.
Feets has a few stores that are outlet stores. These stores do not
sell the full Feets line. At the end of a SKU’s life (where there
are very few items left in inventory), the inventory is sent to
these stores to be sold at substantial discounts.
The Need for Inventory Accuracy
In general, inventory records need to be accurate. In the Feets
distribution chain, inaccurate inventories would cause

9. stockouts. That is, if the central computer had an inventory
record for a particular SKU that was too high, it would not
order replenishment.
In the warehouse, a stock picker will pick up an order for a
store, pick the items on the order, put those items in cartons,
and put the cartons on a pallet. Human error plays a role in what
a store receives for each shipment. Sometimes the wrong items
are put in the carton, sometimes the wrong cartons are put on a
pallet, and sometimes the wrong pallet is put on the truck.
Therefore, those stocking the store must carefully check orders.
The Feets auditor requires the company to take a complete
physical inventory including the stores and the distribution
center twice a year. A company specializing in inventory
auditing performs store inventory. The same outside company
also counts the distribution center quarterly.
Performance Measures
In retail companies, the two most useful metrics are inventory
turns and stockouts. The Feets inventory turn ratio currently
runs at about two. Feets uses its centralized computer to
calculate stockouts. Tedra feels that the current stockout level
of 5% is a little high but to be expected.