APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2015/2016

GRA 6722 Current Issues in Logistics, Operations and SCM

Responsible for the course
Marianne Jahre

Department
Department of Accounting - Auditing and Business Analytics

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
6

Language of instruction
English

Introduction
The competition has moved from competition between firms to competition between supply chains. Any company is linked to other organisations, whether it is suppliers, customers, logistics service providers, or other intermediaries. The performance of the individual firm is dependent on the strength and weaknesses of its partners in the supply chain. This development has had a significant impact on shippers and logistics service providers as well as on other participants in the supply chain, and particularly it has involved a set of strategic challenges concerning supply chain positioning and the role of the supply chain participants, supply chain integration, and supply network configuration and organisation. The objective of the course is to provide the students with an insight of these strategic issues, and how to approach some of these issues.

Learning outcome
Acquired knowledge

To understand the logic of logistics, supply chains, and networks
To gain knowledge of selected and current issues, such as ethics in purchasing and environmental issues in logistics
To understand the specific challenges of logistics and supply chains in selected industries, such as relief operations, construction, and the logistics industry
To gain understanding of selected current research areas in logistics and supply chain management

Acquired skills
to be able to apply logistics and SCM models in different settings
to be able to compare and critique different sources and approaches
to be able to communicate in the range of logistics professionals

Reflections
to appreciate and understand multiple perspectives on logistics and supply chain management
To be able to be a reflexive logistics professional

The intention is that this course will help students to apply and further develop knowledge gained from previous courses in logistics, supply chains, and networks.

Prerequisites

All courses in the Masters programme will assume that students have fulfilled the admission requirements for the programme. In addition, courses in second, third and/or fourth semester can have spesific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.

Compulsory reading
Books:
Gambles, Ian. 2009. Making the business case : proposals that succeed for projects that work. Gower
Simchi-Levi, David, Philip Kaminsky, Edith Simchi-Levi. 2008. Designing and managing the supply chain : concepts, strategies, and case studies. 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Articles:
Selected articles

Other:
During the course there may be hand-outs and other material on additional topics relevant for the course and the examination


Recommended reading

Course outline
Topics in focus will be a selection among:
Logistics and Supply Chain Management (SCM) in theory and practice
Creating Customer Value through Logistics and SCM
Leading Edge Logistics
Performance Measurement, and Benchmarking in Logistics and SCM
SCM integration, Process Management, and Lean Thinking
Network planning and Supply Chain Alliances
Outsourcing, Procurement and Supply Contracts
Organisational Issues in Logistics and SCM
Global and environmental issues in SCM
Implementation of the SCM-concept

The course provides students with a framework of how to develop business cases in real life settings and requires use of tools, concepts and frameworks learnt in other operations management, logistics and SCM courses. The literature constitutes one book providing the business case framework and one book on the main issues within the field to 'remind' students of what they have learnt in their master programme.

Computer-based tools


Learning process and workload
A course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of 160-180 hours.
The course is highly interactive and constitutes a mix of discussions, work with term paper, and lectures on selected issues

Please note that while attendance is not compulsory in all courses, it is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class that is not included on the course homepage/LMS or text book.


Examination
The course grade will be based on the following activities and weights:
60% - Term Paper
40% - Class participation