Supply Management, as a discipline, has changed considerably for many companies over the last few years. It is recognized that adoption of effective supply strategies has the potential to contribute to or drive corporate strategy, thus impacting on the competitive success of modern organisations. The need for effective Supply Management continues to grow in line with increasing global competition, global operations, sourcing and strategic outsourcing. The increasing significance of higher quality bought in goods and services, mass customization, and the growing importance of speed of delivery and adoption of just-in-time production are key considerations in strategic supply management. Outsourcing is seen as a popular strategic solution within industry, but whose advantages can be elusive. Quite often managers fail to fully appreciate the long term and high levels of commitment associated with true strategic outsourcing
This module seeks to generate an understanding of supply management, operations and procurement, strategic outsourcing and partnering within a supply chain context. It will highlight the challenges involved, and route maps for success and the potential rewards.
The module aims to position various supply strategies within the context of corporate strategy and supply chain management and demonstrate the potential contribution to an organisation’s business strategy and ultimate performance. It aims to explore the key procurement operations and strategies, demonstrating their application within the supply chain, and to develop the key purchasing decisions, implications and frameworks. The student will be exposed to a wide range of outsourcing strategies, choices and methods as well as investigating and evaluating supply chain relationships and partnerships. There will be an emphasis in the programme on methods for developing and managing strategic supply management and outsourcing. This will enable the student to evaluate the most optimal course of action for the business
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
The role of Procurement, Outsourcing and B2B Relationships with the context of Logistics and SCM. Strategic alignment & competitive advantage. Matching supply and demand. Service or product supply chains. Contribution and impact of business strategy on supply management decisions & operations. Lean and agile. Product and process design.
Procurement Management:
Role & contribution of procurement and supply to an organisation, and it's the supply chain. Aligning procurement and supply strategies within the organisation; policy and objective setting. Procurement and Supply Strategies.
Vendor Selection and Vendor Management:
Tendering and negotiation. Implementing the strategic objectives, (TQRDCEB). Contract, agreements, terms and conditions. Total cost analysis and the weighted point plan. Developing and implementing supplier performance appraisal systems and metrics.
Outsourcing as a Modern Business Trend:
Scope, rational and drivers, the benefits and costs. Strategic Impact. Risk analysis and pitfalls. The Value Chain, implications of outsourcing. The make or buy decision, Core competency, RBV, TCA, KM, BPO. Implementing the outsourcing decision. Managing outsourcing for firm performance and innovation
Forming strategic partnerships and alliances:
Traditional vs. contemporary supply chain relationships; Customer focus in the supply chain. Alignment theory; Reasons for seeking partnerships, Collaborative advantage. The art of strategic relationships. Criteria for successful relationships;
Innovation and Technology development through managing the outsourced supply network:
Innovation. Risk. Relationships. Role of technology and ICT. Communication. Network design.
Formal lectures are supplemented by structured classroom discussions and a series of relatively short group-based exercises. These interactive exercises will serve to re-enforce some of the learning on the module. The exercises allow the participants to apply the learning in case-based contexts. In addition, company case histories and guest presentations will be used to illustrate key themes.
Critically reading of cases, text books and journals in preparation for in-class discussion, report development and exam.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 50 |
| Other Assessment(s) | 50 |