It's the End of the Week!

Behind the Headlines: Nike’s 775 Layoffs & The Strategic Pivot

Nike recently announced the elimination of 775 roles at distribution centers in Tennessee and Mississippi. While the company cites "accelerating automation" as the driver, Charles Fallon and David Beaudet argue that this is a classic case of a strategy shift—specifically, a retreat from an aggressive direct-to-consumer (DTC) model back toward wholesale distribution.In this episode, we explore:How Nike’s distribution centers were built for a "fantasy" of consumer behavior that didn't materialize.The dangers of confusing a vision with a manifestation before demand exists.Why automation is being used as a convenient "spin" for broader business losses.

The Human Link: Engineering the Future of Planning with Jeffrey Porter

What happens when a civil engineer realizes they have a knack for sales and a passion for solving complex inventory puzzles? You get StockIQ.In this episode of The Human Link, Emilio Colangelo welcomes Jeffrey Porter, CMO of StockIQ, to discuss the evolution of supply chain planning over the last 35 years. Jeffrey shares the "circuitous path" that led him from Hewlett-Packard to bootstrapping a leading smart inventory management platform

Why Data Ownership Is Critical Before Implementation | The Playbook with Simon Dubuc & Jeff Hamilton

Software implementations are often celebrated for their features, but the underlying data is what truly powers the system. In this episode of It's The End of The Week, Simon Dubuc and Jeff Hamilton discuss why data ownership is the ultimate make-or-break factor for digital transformation. They also break down LIDD’s approach to Digital Transformation Roadmaps—a strategic pre-project phase that helps businesses align their technology ecosystem, budget, and timeline before committing to a specific vendor.00:00 Why data ownership is the missing piece of implementation 03:45 The risk of new features becoming obsolete at go-live 07:05 Balancing ambition with reality: The Seven Levels of WIP trap 12:28 When to use a Digital Transformation Roadmap vs. starting an implementation17:15 Identifying the right size byte for a deployment21:10 Key deliverables: Architecture, requirements, and budget timelines

The 2026 Outlook: Navigating Geopolitical Chaos & the New Growth Playbook

The first week of 2026 has already started with a bang. From the seizure of oil assets in Venezuela to the shifting role of the US dollar, the "win-win" era of global trade is rapidly transitioning into a fractured, zero-sum game. For small and medium-sized businesses, the old playbook of endless SKU expansion and domestic-only focus is no longer enough to guarantee survival.In this episode, Steve Weyer and Jeff Hamilton look into the geopolitical pillars driving uncertainty this year and provide a roadmap for how enterprise leaders can hardwire their supply chains for resilience. We explore the rise of "State Capitalism," where governments pick winners and losers, and discuss why the most successful companies of the next decade will be those that look toward the high-growth markets of the Global South and Southeast Asia.

Unlocking the Power of Vibe Coding | The Playbook with Mathieu Galipeau & Alex Moreau

Join Mathieu Galipeau and Alex Moreau as they dive into the world of Vibe Coding, exploring how this innovative approach bridges the gap between creativity and technology. Discover how Vibe Coding fits between low code and pro code, enabling seamless app development through natural language. Our discussion covers the benefits, challenges, and real-world applications of Vibe Coding, and how it can transform your development process.Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Vibe Coding and AI Integration 01:28 Understanding Vibe Coding: Definition, Use Cases and Risks 07:37 Technical Debt and Governance in Vibe Coding 10:20 Practical Applications: Order Tracking and Container Management 14:46 Building the App: A Live Demonstration 22:05 Conclusion and Future Directions for Vibe Coding