MSc Operations, Project and Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management is a relatively new area of study in the management discipline. Christopher (2005:17) defines the supply chain as "the network of organisations that are involved in the different processes and activities that produce value in the form of products and services in the hands of the ultimate consumer". Thus, supply chain management is concerned with the total flow of goods and services: from original inputs to final consumption. In particular, supply chain management highlights the importance of total integration, linkage, and coordination of all entities involved in moving a product or service downstream to the final user. Supply chain management advocates a co-operative approach with channel partners, especially as firms operate as part of global supply chains. The recognition of supply chains and networks as vital parts of commercial survival has led to a greatly increased interest in supply management amongst both academics and practitioners. When managed strategically, supply chains can be a critical source of value and innovation. Students taking this course will find it useful for following careers in supply chain management, consultancy, general management and operations management.

The course aims to complement BMAN70111 Strategic Supply Chain Management to provide students with a more detailed, critical and practical understanding of Supply Chain Management. However, BMAN70111 is not a pre-requisite and students from other MSc Programmes are welcome to take this module as long as the consent of the unit coordinator and their Programme Director is obtained. The focus of the course unit is on enhancing students' understanding of the theory and practice of supply chain management within a variety of industries and management scenarios. On completion of the unit students will have gained an understanding of the decisions that face supply chain managers in a complex and dynamic environment and the theories, concepts and practices that can be used to inform these decisions.

BMAN70292 Programme Req: BMAN70292 is only available as an elective to students on MSc Operations, Project & Supply Chain Management, MSc Business Analytics and MSc Data Science (Business and Management pathway)

This unit is compulsory for students wishing to attain CIPS accreditation

• To develop the students’ understanding from BMAN7011 in Semester 1 and focus on building a more detailed knowledge of theory and practical implications of supply chain techniques.
• To further develop and strengthen the student’s theoretical understanding of the subject area.
• To demonstrate how SCM can be used in practice to create a competitive advantage for firms.

At the completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Appreciate the role of SCM within business organizations.
• Have a clear understanding of how SCM theory can be applied in SCM practice.
• Develop tools and techniques to understand and apply SCM best practice in the workplace.

Written Examination (100%)

Informal advice and discussion during a lecture, seminar, workshop or lab. Responses to student emails and questions from a member of staff including feedback provided to a group via an online discussion forum.

 

Students should make reference to the following texts as background reading for the course:

Lysons and Farrington (2012) Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, 8th edition, CIPS, FT Prentice Hall.

Cousins P, Lamming R, Lawson B and Squire B (2008), Strategic Supply Management: Principles, Theories and Practice, Pearson Education Limited.

NOTE: Not all the topics covered in class will have specified readings from the recommended textbooks but most will. Students are reminded that specified readings from the recommended textbooks MUST be supplemented with additional readings.