TPS, DSS, and EIS and Ethical Issues in Reverse Logistics
From your study of TPS, DSS, and EIS, what would be the ethical issues in the use of these tools as they
relate to reverse logistics operations and strategic planning. This is a tricky one! Think about it.
Reverse logistics is an emerging strategy in the supply chain management. This is
because reverse logistics lacks sufficient literature to support its application in the supply chain.
Ethical considerations are an essential component when applying TPS, DSS, and EIS in reverse
logistics. This is because TPS, DSS, and EIS assist in managing customers and developing
strategies that are effective in ensuring successful reverse logistics management regarding
operations and strategic planning, which in turn improves the overall performance of a company.
A logistics company aims to optimize supply chain and integrate systems of
clients or customers. TPS logistics is developed to help customers with inventory planning,
backlogging, foreign and domestic shipping. The Decision Support System is essential in
substantial logistics and helps in sustainable reverse logistics management. The ethical aspect of
decision support systems (DSS) for both users and developers in logistics is an essential
consideration in reverse logistics management. This is because the structure and framework
impose cognitive decision-making process between both user and developer. DSS is the field of
information systems in reverse logistics that support the managerial decision-making process.
Therefore, it is essential for managers to use ethics in decision making by applying the tools of
DSS regarding technology. Ethical issues should go beyond due diligence and users in reverse
TPS, DSS, AND EIS AND ETHICAL ISSUES IN REVERSE LOGISTICS 2
logistics should ensure that privacy and its application to the supply chain and society at large
(Govindan, Soleimani & Kannan, 2015).
The ethical issues under TPS, DSS, and EIS should enhance a locus of
responsibility as a fundamental issue for ethics and technology. Systems should promote
communication skills and ethical training in making decisions using technology and engaging in
ethical dialogue. Reverse logistics should ensure moral responsibility among all users of systems
to ensures that the outcomes are functional within the legal system of supply chain management.
Reverse logistics should ensure moral responsibility implies both free will and autonomy. This is
because free will and autonomy carry moral and ethical responsibility in the decision-making
process when using technology such as TPS, DSS, and EIS.
Besides, the systems should be designed in such a way that if a mistake is made
within the system, the moral and ethical responsibilities can be traced to the person who
committed the mistake. Managers must develop strategic policies to know who bears the mistake
in case of injurious action within the systems. It is essential to apply useful concepts of trust,
autonomy, and responsibility when using TPS, DSS, and EIS, especially during the process of
decision-making. EIS logistics help integration, and open systems for reverse logistics and
managers in the supply chain must follow the ethical responsibilities and industry trends in order
to apply technology and ensure need satisfaction for customers. Therefore, ethical considerations
should be applied in EIS logistics to ensure effective operations and strategic planning. Logistics
should promote specific practices and code use as well as an open language in order to improve
operations and planning. Also, systems should adhere to environmental and emergency practices
to ensure that operations and strategic planning are within the legal framework.
TPS, DSS, AND EIS AND ETHICAL ISSUES IN REVERSE LOGISTICS 3
Many logistics managers are using sustainable initiatives in logistics operations to
improve supply chain management. The ethical consideration should ensure that both permanent
and temporary employees have restrictions and rules imposed on them for using TPS, DSS, and
EIS in supply chain processes. Moral-ethical considerations should ensure that information is
communicated and presented truthfully and without deceit when using systems. Also, they
should offer complete transparency in both terms of expertise and the law, especially the anti-
trust laws of the country the reverse logistics company operates in. This is because the customers
hiring their services will have the trust that the company is operating within the established law,
particularly the customs laws. It is also essential to ensure that all information and data is
recorded accurately and professionally in a timely fashion and adheres to applicable data
confidentiality and protection policies or laws. These ethical considerations play an essential role
in operations and strategic planning for reverse logistics management (Hudnurkar, Jakhar &
Rathod, 2014).
Therefore, the principle of integrity ensures that users of the systems in reverse
logistics are responsible, fair, admit mistakes, and periodically review the code of conducts.
Besides, it should enhance ethical leadership and respect for others through effective
communication, team building, accountability, openness as well as selflessness and non-
judgmental in applications of TPS, DSS, and EIS in reverse logistics management in order to
enhance operations and strategic planning.
TPS, DSS, AND EIS AND ETHICAL ISSUES IN REVERSE LOGISTICS 4
References
Govindan, K., Soleimani, H., & Kannan, D. (2015). Reverse logistics and closed-loop supply
chain: A comprehensive review to explore the future. European Journal of Operational
Research, 240(3), 603-626.
Hudnurkar, M., Jakhar, S., & Rathod, U. (2014). Factors affecting collaboration in supply chain:
a literature review. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 133, 189-202.
