BU7763 Strategic Supply Chain Management Assessment Brief 1, 2024-25 | UoC

BU7763 Assessment Task

Critically analyse the application of the concept you researched in your class-based group project for an organisation of your choice.

You will produce a report building upon the Group Research Project you conducted and contributed to during the module, as documented in your group’s MS Teams area. In this report, you will explore the application of the supply chain technology and collaboration concept you selected or were assigned to. The themes available for your cohort of students are provided in class and also within a supplement at the end of the module guide available on the module Moodle and Teams pages.

Before you start this assignment, you will have to indicate the organisation you wish to use in your analysis to the module leader. You will be informed how to do this in the class during the module. Each person will need to select a different organisation from the others in their group.

The title of your assignment will be:

A Critical Analysis of the Application of [Concept] for [Organisation Name]

The structure (therefore the subheadings) of your assignment must be as follows:

Executive Summary or Introduction 200 words approx.

This should succinctly indicate the main arguments you raise in your assignment and the key recommendations for the organisation. We suggest you might write this as a final task to ensure it matches the content of the main body of the assignment.

1. Characteristics of [Concept] 1000 words approx.

Define the general characteristics of your chosen supply management concept and critically assess its general application, using up-to-date published literature to support your arguments.

2. Application of [Concept] in [Organisation’s] Operations and Supply Network 1000 words approx.

Report the actual and potential further application of your concept in your chosen organisation’s management of its supply network. This part is generally descriptive, but you are expected to provide references and sources to indicate where you have gathered the data and information about your chosen organisation.

3. Critical Analysis of [Concept] within [Organisation] 1000 words approx.

Report the positive and negative aspects of the application of your concept within your chosen organisation. Here, you can consider the following: What have been the benefits? What issues or problems have the organisation encountered? Has the organisation realised the full potential and value of the application yet?

4. Recommendations for [Organisation] 400 words approx.

Provide three key, concise recommendations for the organisation how they might improve the effectiveness of their application of the supply chain concept you have been evaluating.

5. Conclusion 400 words approx.

Summarise your main arguments and findings from the main body of your assignment. 

References – in the standard APA(7) style, please.

Notes:

1. The overall word count must be 4000 words +/-10% (i.e. between 3600 and 4400 words), excluding words on any diagrams and the references section.
2. Please adhere to the word count requested for your answer to each question.
3. Only use the subheadings prescribed in the structure above – do not add additional subheadings within each of these sections.
4. Use course texts and other reputable literature to back up and inform your arguments and discussion.
5. Top marks will be awarded to those assignments that indicate clear competencies in critical analysis of supply chain management principles, concepts and practices.
6. The assignment must be submitted as a Word document – any other format will not be accepted or marked.
7. This assignment accounts for 100% of the overall module assessment.

Specific Criteria, Guidance & Support

In addition to guidance provided for this assignment over the four main days of class teaching, there are three timetabled Assessment Support classes provided:

Assessment Support 1 and 2 are 3-hour face-to-face sessions.
Assessment Support 3 is a 2-hour online session delivered via Teams a few days before the submission deadline.

Extensive guidance and help will be provided at these Support classes. Your lecturers will deliver some structured material, but the emphasis is on participation of students in class and there will be adequate time for individual and group help, and for formative feedback on your emergent assignment. Attendance is compulsory for these support classes.

Please ensure you review the Assessment Checklist, which can be found in the Moodle module assessment tile. All tutors on the module will be able to advise and support students with the assessment. You can message them via email or MS Teams chat or arrange to meet in person. You may also wish to contact the Academic Skills Team (ASk) for additional support.

BU7763 Learning Outcomes

These must be the outcomes for the assignment stated on the module descriptor.

This assignment will show that you can:

1. Position the design, operation and quality management of supply networks within both a conceptual and strategic framework.

2. Interpret and apply theories of decision making and design in supply chain management to the practice of supply management, including supply network configuration, process optimisation, developing lean, agile and resilient operations, quality improvement, make or buy decisions, supplier portfolio management, and supply relationship management and power relations.

3. Analyse the operational requirements when managing supply networks in contemporary international businesses.

4. Reflect critically from a strategic perspective on current "best practices" in supply and procurement management.

5. Conceptualise and communicate strategic supply chain management issues in a convincing and meaningful way.

6. This assignment will show that you can conduct critical and analytical student research into an individual organisation's supply network. By tackling a specific theme, the assignment will also demonstrate your grasp of contemporary supply management concepts and practice, using the taught material and group research covered in class.

Key Resources.

Specific recommended core reading for each session’s topic was provided in the module Moodle pages.
The following are the most useful general textbooks for this module.

• Bamford, D.R., Forrester, P.L. and Reid, I. (2023). Essential Guide to Operations Management: Concepts and Case Notes. Routledge.
• Christopher, M. (2016). Logistics and Supply Chain Management (5th ed.). Pearson.
• Mena, C., van Hoek, R. & Christopher, M. (2021). Leading Procurement Strategy (3rd ed.). Kogan-Page.
• Slack, N., & Brandon-Jones, A. (2021). Operations and Process Management (6th ed.). Pearson.
• Additional texts include:
• Chopra, S. (2019). Supply Chain Management: Strategy, Planning, and Operation. Pearson.
• Cousins, P., Lamming, R., Lawson, B., & Squire, B. (2008). Strategic Supply Management. FT Prentice-Hall.
• Bamford, D.R., Dale, B.G., & van der Wiele, A. (2016). Managing Quality (6th ed.). Wiley and Sons.
• Harrison, A., van Hoek, R., Skipworth, H., & Aitken, J. (2019). Logistics Management and Strategy. (6th ed.). Pearson.
• Lysons, K. (2020). Procurement and Supply Chain Management (10th ed.). Pearson.
• Slack, N., Brandon-Jones, A., & Burgess, N. (2022). Operations Management (10th ed.). Pearson.
• van Weele, A.J. (2018). Purchasing and Supply Chain Management (7th ed.). Cengage.

Journals containing research articles:

• Journal of Supply Chain Management, Wiley-Blackwell.
• Journal of Purchasing and Supply, Elsevier.
• Supply Chain Management, Emerald.
• International Journal of Operations and Production Management, Emerald.
• Journal of Operations Management, Wiley-Blackwell.
• Production and Operations Management, Wiley-Blackwell.
• European Journal of Purchasing & Supply Management, Elsevier.
• Journal of Business Logistics, Wiley-Blackwell.
• International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, Emerald.
• Websites of professional bodies and associations:

BU7763 Submission Guidance

You must submit assessments in Microsoft Word / Excel / Microsoft PowerPoint / Other* (*tutors to specify the format for the submission and delete as appropriate)

The file must be no larger than 100MB.

Your writing is expected to conform to Standard English in terms of spelling, syntax, and grammar.

Include your word count at the end of the assignment or on the front cover.

Set up your page for A4 paper in portrait style.

The font size must be a minimum of point 12 Calibri (or equivalent) for the body of the assessment.

Line spacing in the body of the assessment must be 1.5 lines.

Number the pages consecutively.

Students should submit work before 4 pm UK/BST time (unless otherwise specified above in part A) on the deadline date electronically via Moodle. Please follow the ‘Turnitin submission’ link on the module space and follow the on-screen instructions, paying particular attention to any specific instructions for each assignment.

You must submit your work with the following details written on the first page:

• Title of your work
• Module title and code
• Module Leader and Seminar Tutor (if relevant)
• Number of words
• Your student assessment number (J Number)

Student work that does not have this information on it will not be identifiable after marking has taken place and risks being recorded as a non-submission.

BU7763 Marking Criteria