What is the bullwhip effect also referred to as?

The bullwhip effect is also known as the Forrester effect, named after Jay Forrester, who first identified this phenomenon in supply chain management. It describes how small fluctuations in consumer demand at the retail level can lead to increasingly larger fluctuations in demand at the wholesale, distributor, manufacturer, and raw materials supplier levels. This amplification of demand signals throughout the supply chain can result in inefficiencies, such as excessive inventory, stockouts, or increased costs. Understanding the Forrester effect is essential for professionals managing supply chains to mitigate its impact and create more responsive systems.

Context surrounding the other options indicates how they might relate to supply chain issues but do not specifically define the bullwhip effect. Supply chain delay and inventory distortion pertain to different concepts relating to operational inefficiencies, whereas demand amplification is a broader term that could refer to various phenomena but is not specifically named after Forrester. Thus, the correct reference to the bullwhip effect emphasizes its identification with the Forrester effect.