Supply Chain Management

Course Director: Lei Huang

All firms participate in a supply chain (SC), from the raw materials to the ultimate consumer. From a cost control perspective, it is estimated that firms with extended global supply chains have between 80% and 90% of their costs tied up in their supply chains. Hence, supply chain management (SCM) performance has a direct effect on the firm's overall performance. SCM is defined as “planning and controlling of all processes involved in procurement, conversion, transportation, and distribution across a supply chain. SCM includes coordination and collaboration between partners, which can be suppliers, intermediaries, third-party service providers, or customers. In essence, SCM integrates supply and demand management within and between companies in order to serve the needs of the end customer.” (Council of SCM Professionals, 2010).

The overall objective of the course is to offer an overview of SCM by providing students with an understanding of basic SCM concepts, models, and their application in practice. The focus is on understanding the design and operation of the SC as a management process that extends beyond organizational boundaries. Specifically, it elaborates on the four main SC processes: sourcing, making, delivering, and returning. Each process is further scrutinized from a sustainability perspective, discussing environmental, economic, and social dimensions.

The course is organized into three parts:

Part 1: Understanding SCM background, basic concepts and sustainability in SCM

In Part 1, a holistic perspective on SCM and sustainability in SCM (SSCM) is introduced. Students get familiar with the background of SCM, the key issues concerned by SCM as well as concepts associated with SSCM. The purpose of this part is to prepare students for their further interaction with the SC processes (in Part 2) and provide them with a holistic perspective on SCM as well as SSCM to support their analysis of real-life cases (in Part 3).

Part 2: Learning the main SC processes

The four main supply chain processes—sourcing, making, delivering, and returning—are elaborated. Rather than focusing on isolated technical issues, the emphasis is on designing effective supply chain strategies for each process that collectively enhance overall supply chain performance. Each process is also explored through a sustainability lens.

In Part 2, students learn about different SCM concepts & models and discuss SC activities from a sustainability perspective. They will also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge through activities including,

• Seminar
• Theme workshops (run by practitioners expertized in relevant SC processes)
• SCM Game

**Part 3: Synthesis **

In Part 3, students integrate the theoretical and practical knowledge developed throughout the course and apply the knowledge in:

• Group project work

Course administrators: Karl.Strelis@hhs.se, Lixin.Lu@hhs.se,alexandra.svahn.alberts@hhs.se

The overall intended learning outcome for this course is that students upon completion of the course should be able to develop an understanding in how SCs work in practice, select and apply the appropriate set of concepts and models for analyzing an organization’s supply chain, and making theoretically grounded suggestions for improvements. More specifically, the students should be able to:

1. Understand and explain the basic concepts of SCM
2. Map and describe the main flows in the supply chain
3. Describe and analyze SC practices by applying the SCM concepts and models
4. Select and apply the relevant concepts and models to identify the improvement areas of a given SC and give suggestions
5. Analyze and discuss SC practices from a sustainability perspective

General entry requirements.

The course literature consists of one course book and three complementary articles.

For reading instructions, follow the course schedule.

Course book

• “Logistics Management and Strategy” (2019) by Alan Harrison, Heather Skipworth, Remko van Hoek & James Aitken 6th edition, Prentice Hall/Financial Times. (5th ed is ok, too).

Articles

• Kopczak, L. R., & Johnson, M. E. (2003). The supply-chain management effect. MIT Sloan Management Review, 44(3), 27-34.
• Halldórsson, Á., Kotzab, H., & Skjøtt-Larsen, T. (2009). Supply chain management on the crossroad to sustainability: a blessing or a curse?, Logistics Research, 1(2), 83-94.
• Krikke, H., Blanc, I. L., & van de Velde, S. (2004). Product modularity and the design of closed-loop supply chains. California management review, 46(2), 23-39.

Diverse learning styles provide a basis for assessment, both individual as well as team contributions are assessed. All five intended learning outcomes will be assessed in four examination components. These components are:

1. Assignment 1 (Group work – max. 2 pts): Preparing a seminar on SCM in real events
2. Assignment 2 (Group work – max. 3 pts): Actively engaging in theme workshop discussions and developing reflection reports on workshops
3. Assignment 3 (Group work – max. 15 pts): Analyzing the SC of an organization - Written report and presentation of final project work, and being discussant to another group's project
4. Individual written exam (max. 80 pts): 4 hours closed-book exam

The students will work in groups (5-6 people) with three group assignments. More detailed instructions regarding the assignments are provided on the Assignments page in Canvas.

A compound grade for the course is thus calculated in the following way:

• Group assignments (20%) and the individual written exam (80%).
  Students need to get a minimum of 10 pts from the group assignments and a minimum of 40 pts from individual exams to be able to pass the course.

Attendance:
The course’s pedagogical structure gives substantial weight to active in-class learning. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you attend all workshops to help practice applying your learning from the lectures to a different context, which, in turn, is necessary to perform well in the assessment activities.

Please also note:

Participation in the group presentation and discussion is part of the assignments, therefore will affect the points received.

Find the course schedule in TimeEdit

Have you been granted educational support because of a documented disability? If so, please contact the course director as soon as possible so that adequate accommodations can be made.

Contact specialneeds@hhs.se if you have questions about being granted educational support or need a copy of your educational support certificate.

For more information, visit the Specific Educational Needs page on the Student Hub (login required).