Professor Ravi Anupindi of Ross School of Business, University of Michigan visited BRAC University on 3 August, 2016.
Professor Ravi met Vice Chancellor, BRAC University, Professor Syed Saad Andaleeb, Ph.D. He also met Lady Syeda Sarwat Abed, Director, BRAC Institute of Languages, BRAC University and Ms. Afsana Chowdhury, Program Manager, Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, BRAC University. Professor Ravi Anupindi made a presentation on “Socially Responsible Value Chain Management” to the faculty members of BRAC Business School at BBS Conference Room. Prof. Andaleeb, Prof. Mirza Azizul Islam, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mamun Habib, Assoc. Prof. and Head of OperationsMohammed Tareque Aziz, Assist.Prof. Riyashad Ahmed, Assist. Prof. Afsana Akhter, Assist. Prof.Mahreen Mamoon and Assist. Prof. Tamzidul Islam were present among others. They discussed regarding the various aspects of the value chain in terms of issues in economic development, health care and sustainability.
During the discussion Prof. Anupindi brought up the question of how far a business’s responsibility goes when firms face challenges due to suppliers being involved in unethical activities. While it is easy to cancel such a contract, intervening to solve the problem instead may be a better option, he added. He emphasized on the idea that responsible value chain management includes deeper understanding of the end to end value chain, having a bottom up perspective on issues faced by people who add value to the product.
Professor Anupindi afterwards met with Mr. Nayeem Wahra, Director, Disaster Management and Climate Change (DMCC), Ms. Bithun Tasnuva Mazid, Senior Manager, DMCC and Dr. Nepal C. Dey, Senior Research Fellow, Research and Evaluation Division, BRAC, Mr. Md. Reaz Uddin Khan, Lecturer and Ms. Nureen Faiza Anisha, Research Assistant, Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research, BRAC University.