Episode 10 - Your work and your necessities during COVID-19

Today on ​This is Purdue,​ Olivea McCollins talks to ​Ananth Iyer​ and ​Ellen Kossek​ about situations that are facing many of us today. Anath Iyer is the Susan Bulkeley Butler Chair in Operations Management at the Krannert School of Management​ and Ellen Kossek is the Basil S. Turner Professor at Purdue University's Krannert School of Management.

In the first part of the episode, Ananth Iyer goes in-depth about the supply chain process. Specifically, he shares how supply and demand have worked in the last few months. He explains that when you purchase a product from a grocery store, you are actually involved in the last step of the supply chain. Iyer walks us through the different stages of the supply chain from: suppliers, to manufacturers, to buyers of a warehouse, to a retailer. He also defines an information supply chain which involves the orders being made for the product within each stage. You will hear about what happens when there is a supply-demand mismatch. Iyer explains how customers can help out by ordering products ahead of time. He states, “You’ve basically eliminated all the risk for them.”  

In the second half, Ellen Kossek gives advice to listeners, specifically those working remote right now. She does not see this time in quarantine as the “new normal.” She encourages you to make it work during this time. She shares tips regarding setting boundaries while working from home She references a study by ​IBM​ that shares the value of having a door to your office to help with these boundaries. When discussing paid sick time, she shares, “So I’m hoping that this will reframe the debate about the importance of paid sick time for everyone in the U.S. as a public good.” She encourages listeners to take time for yourself to do something you love.

Related information

Learn more about: ​Ananth Iyer
Learn more about: ​Ellen Kossek
Visit Purdue's website:​ purdue.edu/podcast​.
Krannert School of Management