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21797 Strategic Supply Chain Management

UTS: Business: Management
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level: Postgraduate

Result Type: Grade and marks

Handbook description

Strategic supply chain management introduces a dynamic, revitalised organisation function presently enjoying a worldwide revival as a key element of competitive advantage. This subject introduces a range of sophisticated concepts of purchasing and materials management. Relevant to the private, public or nonprofit sectors, this subject covers a wide range of supply chain management activities including formation and management of strategic alliances, buyer selection and management, global sourcing, ethics in contracting situations and applications of information technology in supply chain management.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

  1. evaluate the strategic purpose of supply chain management and its relationship with various organisational functions
  2. develop and apply a range of supply chain performance measures and benchmarks
  3. define the nature of four drivers of supply chain performance; inventory, transportation, facilities, and information
  4. analyse the structure of a range of supply chains and apply the analysis within a decision making process
  5. describe the application of e-business systems within the supply chain
  6. demonstrate the implications of supply chain management for organisation, national and international performance.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject develops a range of core business skills through the analysis of a series of case studies of national and international supply chains. The techniques developed are grounded in both quantitative and qualitative forms of analysis. The quantitative techniques in particular will develop the student's capacity in the analysis of problems in complex situations with high levels of uncertainty.

The subject explains the scope of the area, and the emergence of supply chain management as a key strategic function within businesses. A number of case studies will be used to demonstrate issues, and to enable the student to apply leading edge techniques to contemporary business situations.

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject will be taught using a combination of lectures, simulations, and workshops. These classes will be supplemented with both printed and electronic learning materials and resources. The UTS web-based communication tool (UTS Online) will be used to share information and encourage interaction between staff and students. Students will also use appropriate computer software such as spreadsheets and word processors to complete assigned tasks.

Content

  • Introduction to the subject including its aims and rationale.
  • Overview of the resource based view of the firm and the drivers of supply chain performance.
  • Detailed analysis of the relationship between the drivers of supply chain performance and the strategic objectives of the firm.
  • Characteristics of the interaction between e-business and strategic supply chain management.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Research essay (Individual)

Objective(s): 1-4
Weighting: 25%
Task: An essay based on the topic that can be selected from a provided list of topics, or negotiated with the lecturer. Addresses objectives 1-4.

Assessment item 2: Assignment (Group)

Objective(s): 1, 4, 5
Weighting: 30%
Task: This will assess students' understanding of the concepts of supply chain analysis in a business context. It will allow students to demonstrate that they can use spreadsheets to conduct quantitative analysis of a system, and to use this quantitative analysis to review a business situation. Addresses objectives 1, 4, and 5.

Assessment item 3: Final Exam (Individual)

Objective(s): 3, 5, 6
Weighting: 45%
Task: This exam, consisting of short answer questions, will test students' understanding of the theory and their ability to apply the theory to supply chain situations. Addresses objectives 3, 5 and 6.

Required text(s)

Bowersox, DJ, Closs, DJ and Cooper, MB, 2007, Supply chain logistics management, 2nd edn, Sydney, McGraw Hill

Recommended text(s)

Faculty of Business, Guide to Writing Assignments.

Indicative references

Berger, R.C. (2003) 2003 GMA logistics study: Key industry trends in the food, grocery and consumer product suppy chain, Grocery Manufacturers of America.

Chopra, S. and Meindle, P. (2004) Suppy Chain Management, 2nd edn, New Jersey: Pearson Education International.

Corsten, D. and Gruen, T. (2004) Stock-Outs cause walkouts. Harvard Business Review 26-27.

Croxton, K.L., Garcia-Dastaugue, S.J., Lambert, D.M. and Rogers, D.S. (2001) The suppy chain management processes. International Journal of Logistics Management 12, 13-36.

Davis, T. (1993) Effective Suppy Chain Management. Sloan Management Review 35-46.

Fisher, M.L. (1997) What is the right suppy chain for your product? Harvard Business Review 105-116.

Gottfredson, M., Puryear, R. and Phillips, S. 2005, 'Strategic sourcins: From periphery to the core', Harvard Business Review, no. Feb, pp 132-139.

Hines, P., Lamming, R., Jones, D., Cousins, P. and Rich, N. (2000) Value Stream Management: Strategy and excellence in the suppy chain, London: Pearson Education.

Kirby, J. (2003) Suppy chain challenges: Building relationships. Harvard Business Review 64-73.

Lee, H.L. (2002) Aligning suppy chain strategies with product uncertainties. California Management Review 44, 105-119.

Lee, H.L. (2004) The Triple-A suppy chain. Academy of Management Executive 102-112.

Levy, D. (1997) Lean production in an international suppy chain. Sloan Management Review 38, 94-102.

Porter, M. 2001, 'Strategy and the Internet', Harvard Business Review, Mar, pp 63-78.

Porter, M. 1996, 'What is strategy?', Harvard Business Review, Nov-Dec, pp 61-78.

Sisilain, E. and Satir, A. 2000, 'Strategic sourcing: A framework and a case study', The Journal of Suppy Chain Management, vol. 36, no. 3, pp 4-11.

Simchi-Levi, D., Kaminski, P. and Simchi-Levi, E. (2003) Designing and managing the suppy chain 2ed, Sydney: McGraw Hill.

Waters, D. (2003) An introduction to suppy chain management, Basingstoke: Palgrave.