Identity Confusion And Operational Chaos

So, I was watching and listening to Tegan and Sara, but was disconcerted, and concentrated more on trying to figure out which is Tegan and which is Sara, than on getting into the music.  For those who don't yet know, the Canadian indie rock duo is sorta hot at the moment.  Maybe it's a generational thing, but when I learned that they had seven albums out I puzzled over the possibility that they had issued seven different releases, or perhaps had sold only seven of one.  By the time that I do get things straight in my mind they may, or may not, still be around.

We face similar challenges in our supply chain world.  The Tegan/Sara conundrum is borderline understandable, in that they are identical twins.  Our choices present options that are merely somewhat same-looking or same-sounding.

For example, how is supply management the same as or different from supply chain managment?  What are the distinctions among supply chain management, value chain management, and demand management?  How are certification programs from professional organizations related to certificates of functional proficiency from any number of sponsoirs and issuers?  How do supply chain certifications from various institutions compare, and which are more current, valuable, and practical?

In a shopping cart chock full of "comprehensive" supply chain software solutions, which products are truly comprehensive, with equivalent quality and functionality in the various modules that constitute end-to-end planning, analysis, and execution?  What are the qualities and attributes of the companies behind them - background, staying power, continuing investment, key talent resources, financial stability?

Hmm - maybe solving the Tegan and Sara questions is the easier task, after all.

PS: As a devotee of Lady Gaga, a little monster who was born this way, I don't think it is a generational thing.