Reference no: EM132523633 , Length: word count:2000

200329 Supply Chain Management - Western Sydney University

Learning outcome 1: Describe supply chain and logistics processes and explain the underlying principles that support their effective manag ement.

Learning outcome 2: Elaborate on the role and importance of customer relationship management and its importance in developing an effective and efficient sup ply chain.

Learning outcome 3. Identify the various elements of supply chain and logistics management processes and critically evaluate their role and interdependence in effective supply chain management.

Learning outcome 4. Interpret, from a strategic perspective, the role and importance of supply chain management in enhancing competitive advantage.

Learning outcome 5. Define and evaluate the networks and relationshipsp resent within supply chains.

Learning outcome 6. Apply important tools and techniques for designing, operating and evaluating the performance of an effective supply chain management system.

Topic - Any contemporary topic.

Assessment: Case study reports

Overview
The aim of this assessment is to ensure that students understand how logistics and supply chain operations can be carried out in companies in a cost-effective way. This can be achieved through various approaches, techniques and management strategies, all of which will be detailed in these case studies. The reports should have clear analysis and explanations targeting the questions being asked. The answers must be presented in a clear and comprehensive way with insights demonstrating the level of understanding of relevant topics. In this exercise, learning outcomes of 2, 3, 5 and 6 will be met.
Details
Groups (normally a maximum of five students per group) will be formed in the first week in preparation for case analysis. There are four mini-reports in total.

The cases and related questions will be assigned one week before they are due for discussion in class. It is essential that during this week students prepare for the cases in advance of the class. This means that students should read the case in advance and make notes regarding their responses to the questions assigned for the case before coming to the class.

Time will then be assigned for a brief discussion in class within your group. Listen to what others within your group have noted and form some consensus for the group in answering the case questions. All groups will then be asked to contribute to the class discussion and you should individually note the views expressed by other groups as well.
Each group will then develop a consolidated report addressing the assigned questions. These reports should be submitted based on the schedule stipulated above. The format of this can be informal and neatly handwritten or typed, but must specifically address all the assigned questions.
Similar to the real world there is unlikely to be one distinct answer; rather it depends on interpretation so the result will be a thorough grounding in case analysis and a greater understanding of supply chain topics. You should consider each case based on the theory of supply chain management that you have been studying, information you have gained from other subjects, and your own experiences.

Assessment: Research report

Overview
The writing of this research report enables students to understand how supply chain management approaches can be adopted in a firm and how they can leverage the competitiveness through improved reduction of logistics cost and maximise company profits. Through this exercise, students can also learn how to critique the role and importance of supply chain management within the context of an organisation's overall business strategy. In this assessment, students are required to write a report on one important contemporary supply chain management topic that you think is of contemporary relevance or will have a major impact in the future. Most importantly, you need to demonstrate you have ideas of your own and not just duplicating the views from available materials. The marks given will depend on the insights or relevant topics that you are going to discuss. Your research paper could be based on an extensive literature search, or the analysis of some latest technique or approach discussed in the professional circles, or the latest research in this area. In this exercise, learning outcomes of 4, 5 and 6 will be met

Details
Write a report on one important contemporary supply chain management topic that you think is of contemporary relevance or will have a major impact in the future. Your research paper could be based on an extensive literature search, or the analysis of some latest technique or approach discussed in the professional circles, or the latest research in this area.
The main objective of this research paper is to give participants an opportunity to explore the latest developments and contemporary issues in supply chain management area.

It is important that you begin your research early as searching for information, and researching literature takes lots of time. So start early. Don't leave things until the last moment. A last minute rush will not give you enough time to do your report to a satisfactory standard. Therefore, set up a week-by week plan of steps needed to complete your assignment. In other words treat your assignment like a project that has to be completed by a certain date.

Report format Report-style with numbered headings for the different sections of the report. Direct quotes should be kept to a minimum, and all quotations and references to other people's work (including web sites) requires acknowledgment by way of appropriate citations in text as well as in a reference list at the end of your report. References and citations in text should follow the Harvard system. Warning: Failure to properly reference will reduce your overall marks.
The research paper should contain a discussion of the conceptual basis of the topic/issue, its significance in supply chain management context, and draw out similar or contrasting assumptions/observations of various authors on the issues, and discussions on the implications and future directions.

Report structure It is suggested you use the following structure for your report:
• Executive Summary
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Background conceptual information, definitions, characteristics and examples
• Information on the importance of the chosen topic
• How this topic interacts and facilitates the supply chain
• Discussions on implications and future directions
• Conclusion

Note: Need Research report only