GM Case Study

1. How important is the IP to GM? What is the consequence if the supplier owns the IP? Why would a supplier be hesitant to share its IP with GM?

GMs intellectual property (IP) is crucial to its business model (Srock et al., 2019). If a supplier owns the IP, GM would be at a disadvantageous position and may have to pay royalty fees or license the technology. This would make their products more expensive and less competitive. Additionally, the supplier may be hesitant to share its IP with GM because it could be used by GM to develop competing products.

In fact, a supplier may be hesitant to share its IP with another business for a variety of reasons (Daniels et al., 2007). The supplier may believe that the other business is not capable of properly safeguarding the IP, or that the other business will use the IP to compete with the supplier. Additionally, the supplier may be concerned that sharing the IP could lead to the other business gaining an unfair competitive advantage. Finally, the supplier may simply want to maintain control over the IP and its associated technology. Whatever the reason, it is important to understand a supplier's motivation for keeping its IP close to the vest before entering into any kind of partnership or collaboration.

As a result, it is important for GM to carefully manage its relationship with suppliers in order to protect its IP.

Regarding the buyersupplier relationship:

1. How does the geographical location of the suppliers (China versus Mexico versus the United States versus Germany) affect GMs decision?

GMs decision to source parts from suppliers in China, Mexico, the United States, and Germany is based on a number of factors, including the geographical location of the suppliers. The proximity of the suppliers to GMs manufacturing facilities is an important consideration, as it can impact the timely delivery of parts and materials. Additionally, the cost of labor and transportation must be taken into account when making sourcing decisions. The cost of labor includes wages, benefits, and training. The cost of transportation includes fuel, maintenance, and insurance. The relative cost of these two factors will vary depending on the location of the supplier and the mode of transportation. For example, if the supplier is located in a developing country, the cost of labor may be lower but the cost of transportation may be higher. If the supplier is located in a...…to a single supplier.

In addition, if the relationship between the automaker and the supplier breaks down, it can be difficult and expensive to find a replacement. This is because the automotive supply chain is highly complex, with each supplier playing a vital role in the production process. The automotive industry is built on relationships between automakers and suppliers. These relationships are essential for ensuring that vehicles are delivered on time and within budget. Yet, if disagreements arise due to new leadership or a change in strategy, it can lead to serious problems in the production line or factories down the road.

As a result, many automakers are now increasingly turning to multi-source suppliers in order to reduce risk and increase flexibility. While multi-sourcing may not always be the cheapest option, it can provide significant advantages in terms of risk management. By diversifying its supplier base, a company can protect itself against disruptions to the supply chain. In addition, multi-sourcing can also create competition among suppliers, leading to lower prices and improved quality. Thus, through working with multiple suppliers, a company like GM can gain access to a wider range of expertise and technologies. For that reason, it makes sense for the company to…