Required textbook

No required textbook

Recommended textbook

Chopra, S., & Meindl, P. (2016). Supply Chain Management. Strategy, Planning & Operation: Pearson (6th ed.), ISBN13: 9781292093567.

Additional supplementary readings

Additional readings pertinent to each session will be uploaded accordingly on the iLearn page prior to the session. No learning material will be provided in hard copy format.

Further sources of information

Main supply chain associations in Australia and abroad

• Supply Chain & Logistics Association of Australia (SCLAA)
• Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP)
• American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS)
• Institute for Supply Management (ISM)

Top academic supply chain and logistics outlets

• Journal of Supply Chain Management
• Supply Chain Management: An International Journal
• Journal of Business Logistics
• Journal of Operations Management
• Transportation Research Parts (A to F) (6 outlets)
• Production and Operations Management
• Management Science
• Operations Research

Useful academic databases (DB), search engines (SE), and publishers (PB)

• Emerald Insight (DB)
• Elsevier (DB)
• Scopus (SE)
• Web of Science (SE)
• Wiley (PB)
• Springer (PB)

Useful Industry databases

• IBISWorld
• Factiva

MGSM iLearn

The web page for this unit can be found at: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MGSM

Technology

Access to a personal computer is required to access resources and learning material from iLearn.

Unit objectives

The basic objectives of this unit are:

• To develop an appreciation of the key issues currently facing the manager of an operational functional area.
• To gain an insight into the appropriate means of applying process based concepts and operational tools and techniques.
• To develop an ability to interrelate the impact of developments made in the operations area with other functional areas and with overall corporate strategy.

Study requirements

It will be assumed that the assigned reading for each session has been done prior to class.  Class time will be spent ensuring that you have understood this material and exploring new developments and extensions to the basic concepts.

Class case discussions and project preparations will be used as methods for active participatory learning.  The grade you obtain for them together with the participation grade will measure the effectiveness of the learning process.  The primary output measures are the project assessment, case study report and discussion, tests and class participation and contribution.

The mode of assessment will test your skills through a number of ways during this unit: situation investigation and analysis, report writing, verbal and written presentations, the ability to work effectively in teams, and participation in class discussions. 

If you are unable to attend a class session or have to arrive late or leave early, please let me know before the session concerned as this will have an obvious impact on the planned syndicate work.  If this situation occurs you should also arrange with a fellow class member to collect any handouts and other information for you.

Please be familiar with the contents of the MGSM Student Handbook on our website, the access password of which will be provided to you with your unit notes.  Various search engines are also available through this website and will provide valuable assistance in searches of journal articles through the internet.

Formal assessment for this unit is designed to recognise both individual and team effort.  This is consciously done to reflect the business environment where effective teamwork is essential to the achievement of individual success.  Please note that class “contribution” and not simply “participation” will be graded; there is a subtle but important difference between the two.  After each session, notes will be made of those who made important contributions to the session, as well as other individuals who participated.  All of you have significant work experience to contribute to the class: you are strongly encouraged to use that in order to make the class a more productive learning experience for us all!

A note on analysing cases

Please watch this video below about case preparation:

“How to prepare a business case study .. and how not to”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tauV48IEcgc

The WEDNESDAY class for 2018 Term 2 is scheduled every Wednesday evening from 6pm to 10pm, starting from 4 April 2018 and finishing on the 6 June 2018.

Students are required to attend all classes for the class they are enrolled in.

This unit will be presented over 10 sessions as follows:

Please note that the program is listed in order of the topics to be covered, and not lecture time- slots. Consequently, some topics may run over the class period, whereas others will be shorter than the class period. The proposed program might be subject to some minor changes as the term progresses. There might be guest speakers invited from academia and practice (TBA). The readings for each session will be announced by the lecturer before the commencement of the term. Students are required to regularly check their iLearn for updates on their unit readings and further requirements.

Assessment tasks: Weekly quiz removed from individual contribution assessment component. Mid-term exam has also been removed. Details of the group project assessment have also changed. A final examination component has also been implemented into

Delivery and resources: Required textbook has been removed.

Unit schedule: Topics have been changed. Reference to textbook chapters have been modified to reflect chapters from the recommended textbook.

• Leadership: The unit develops skills required of leaders with respect to the synthesis of a wide array of supply chain information in order to make well-informed and financially robust operational, tactical and strategic decisions.
• Global mindset: The unit enhances the ability to assess the implications of strategic decisions in supply chains, across a wide spectrum of stakeholders and diverse international contexts.
• Citizenship: The unit encourages application of a true and fair view approach to supply chain activities where discretion exists related to accountability and ethical practices.
• Creating sustainable value: The unit assists students to adopt a forward-looking perspective on the impact of decisions in supply chains vis-à-vis business, environmental and social sustainability.

The interactive environment of the classroom is central to the MGSM experience. Students are required to attend the full duration of all classes for the units in which they are enrolled. We recognise that exceptional circumstances may occur, such as unavoidable travel on behalf of your organization or the serious illness or injury of you or a close family member.

Special consideration may be given for a maximum of 20% non-attendance for such circumstances as long as lecturers are contacted in advance, and supporting documentation provided, to request exemption from attendance. Failure to abide by these conditions may result in automatic withdrawal, with academic and/or financial penalty. The full Student Attendance Policy is published in the MGSM Student Handbook at https://students.mgsm.edu.au/handbook.

These unit materials and the content of this unit are provided for educational purposes only and no decision should be made based on the material without obtaining independent professional advice relating to the particular circumstances involved.