Perhaps the most intriguing part of the whole Dell’s computer manufacturing process is the end users the “consumer.”   We simply visit Dell.com to initiate our computer desire via their website – which usually takes only a few minutes to hours or maybe days.  No matter, just the fact we had made a final decision on the bells and whistles that we might never use in the computer that we had just built.  I know this process because I have done this same process several times over the years.  Nevertheless, I didn’t have a clue on the process after my final decision was made.  This is the where the real wonder begins with a least a hundred thousand plus other daily emails of purchase orders.  Dell has six global factories from Ireland, China, Brazil, Tennessee, Texas, and Malaysia.  The Malaysia notebook factory receives a purchase order email to begin the building process of laptops.  The parts are then requested from the Penang factory which is Dell’s supplier logistics centers (SLCs) they are global staging areas for the company.  The process operates 24 hours 7 days a week’s 365 days a year.

In any complex organization the operation processes are essential to having the organization flow seamlessly, therefore, it takes a great deal of logistics that needs to be in place for the organization to operate effectively.  For years Al-Qaeda’s operation has had a somewhat of success in its supply chain organization.  Early on in Al-Qaeda’s history they have had unfortunately successes as a result of its supply chain operation.  Within their supply chain operation there are a large number of different variables from the planning of an operation to the execution of their terrorist’s activities.   Overcoming issues of communication and suppliers there needs to be a formal supply chain management to be successful, therefore, the answer to the questions of if Al-Qaeda has a supply chain?  The answer is yes.

The curse of oil is mostly an issue of balance of power or the lack thereof.  As a result of our addiction to oil this has played right into the part of the curse that has plagued citizens that are ruled by dictators and monarchs.  Countries have used their own oil revenues to adversely influence all the levels of their state, including the police, the army and their own government infrastructure.

As a result of their activities they do not need to be transparent for the mere fact that they don’t tax their people, and when they don’t tax their people, they don’t need to be accountable on how they allocate their funds from oil.