MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management modules

Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chain Management

• Autumn semester, 15 credits

The green logistics and supply chain management (GLSCM) module deals with the issues related to developing sustainable and environmental friendly supply chain practices. In this module, various 'green' practices in the supply chain and, the potential benefits and challenges in adopting these practices will be discussed. Success and failure of green initiatives in different organisations will be critically analysed. Future trends and direction in 'green' supply chain will also be discussed in the class. Most recent happenings across the world regarding governmental policies and carbon tax initiatives will be included as 'a topic for an interesting debate' in the classroom.

Supply Chain Technology

• Autumn semester, 15 credits

The module deals with the technological aspect of logistics and supply chain processes. It will introduce students to a range of technology (e.g. RFID, bar code etc) and issues related to information systems in logistics and supply chain operations. It will demonstrate the theories and principles underpinning supply chain technologies and its implementation in practice. This module will also enrich the practical skills and knowledge related to supply chain technology in students, and in-turn enabling them to effectively contribute towards a supply chain and logistics-related role.

Logistics System

• Autumn semester, 15 credits

This module is intended to be a survey of analytic tools, approaches, and techniques which are useful in the design, operation and management of logistics systems and integrated supply chains. The course will be taught from a managerial perspective, with an emphasis on where and how specific tools can be used to improve the overall performance and reduce the total cost of a supply chain. A strong emphasis will be placed on the development and use of fundamental models and solution techniques (based on Operational Research methods) to illustrate the underlying concepts involved in both intra- and inter-company logistics operations.

Operations Management for Logistics and Supply Chain Management

• Autumn semester, 15 credits

Operations Management (OM) is concerned with the production of goods and services and it relates closely to all the other business functions. Operations Management is concerned with the effective and efficient marshalling of the organization’s resources to meet its objectives. The concepts and techniques apply to manufacturing and service industries in both private and public sectors. Operations Management is the only business function that generates income for the organisation and is therefore central to all commercial businesses. The subject of Operational Research (OR) is also introduced. This is a systematic and logical approach to the solution of management problems, often involving the construction and manipulation of mathematical models. It is used extensively in Operations Management as well as in other functional areas of an organisation as an aid in decision making.

Supply Chain Accounting and Finance

• Spring semester, 15 credits

This module focuses on developments in supply chain accounting and finance. New organisational forms demand new approaches to accounting and finance in order to maximise opportunities arising out of collaborative forms of engagement. Firms compete with each other on the relative merits of their respective supply chains and therefore accounting and finance practices must support this reality rather than being rooted in traditional organisational settings. Students will critically evaluate accounting and finance in this context and identify developing tools and techniques in the area. The mod aims to provide students with a critical understanding of the role of supply chain accounting and finance in the context of developing supply chain and logistics operations.

Global Supply Chain Leadership

• Spring semester, 15 credits

Global Supply Chain Leadership is a module designed to enable students to learn the latest strategic thinking and issues in developing a strong leadership to manage a global supply chain. In the first part of the course, some theories from strategic management, organisations, international business, HR and leadership will be illustrated. Then, common decision making problems faced by supply chain leaders (mainly concerning performance evaluation and purchasing) will be presented, along with practical examples and solution techniques. This is a multi-disciplinary module that prepares students with the relevant knowledge and skill sets required in order to successfully manage a global supply chain. This unit aims to provide the students with: A sound understanding of the theories and practices to lead a global supply chain; an ability to appreciate and apply the theories in managing a global supply chain, and exposure to real-life case studies of various leadership models.

Supply Networks Management

• Spring semester, 15 credits

This module will enable students to understand the complexities of managing supply networks across different industries. It will introduce students to the relevant principles and management frameworks to effectively identify and analyze the problems associated with network management. The content will highlight the importance of supply networks in successfully managing the businesses, and will enable students to evaluate emerging trends in current and future industry landscape. Practical examples and case studies will be discussed to provide practitioners’ perspectives over various issues in supply networks management. The module aims to: Introduce the key principles and concepts in supply networks management to students; explain relevant management tools, techniques and frameworks to analyse various problems associated with supply networks, and discuss the challenges of effectively managing supply networks in current and future business environments.

Research Methods

• Autumn and spring semesters, 15 credits

Appreciating research is important for a variety of reasons; in particular, evaluating research reports and papers written by others, commissioning research to help inform management decisions, and planning and undertaking one’s own research. Important aspects of this are understanding how knowledge is produced, the assumptions underpinning the research process, and its limitations. Research design is often based on competing assumptions about the nature of knowledge, and will therefore be conducted with varying methods and degrees of technical expertise. An understanding of the process of knowledge production will enable students to critically evaluate research results – whether other people’s or their own – and to plan a realistic research project for their dissertation.

Dissertation

• Summer semester, 45 credits

The dissertation is the culmination of your master’s study and recognition of your capability to conduct a research project independently. Students can apply to undertake an organisation based dissertation project, arranged by the Management School. Working with an organisation, students can structure their project around a real business issue of challenge set by the host organisation. A student project will develop your employability skills, enhance your CV and give you the chance to use your insight to help an organisation develop.

Strategic Management

• Spring semester, 15 credits

Today’s modern managers and organisations face a multitude of complex decisions, challenges and ‘problems’ on a daily basis. Making effective decisions can be a complex process, relying upon many skills and techniques which need to be drawn upon. The rapid rate of change in organisations, globalisation and deregulation has led to unstable environments and the constant need for modern managers to innovate and use more creative methods of working in order to solve problems more effectively, enable product innovation and maintain competitive advantage in the 21st century. The main focus of the module is strategic issues, particularly in terms of encouraging you, as a student/manager to recognise enterprising skills and how they may be developed and nurtured in both individuals and companies. However, a wider understanding will be provided in relation to the contribution that innovators and entrepreneurs and their activities make to the industrial, economic and social development of the U.K. and how the concepts of enterprise and innovation have matured over time. Strategy has many guises. It is important to stress that throughout this module you will encounter different interpretations of what we mean by ‘Strategy’, ‘Strategic Management’ and ‘Strategic Practice’. It is important to recognise that there is more than one form of strategy and more than one way of acting ‘strategically’ in different organisational contexts; it is open to a variety of perceptions from a range of people therefore we want you to adopt a critical approach and explore these angles as you progress through the module. Most crucially, this module is about you, how you practice strategy through personal experience and how you can develop as an entrepreneurial leader in your own way using various tools, methods and theories we will encounter.

International Business 

• Spring semester, 15 credits

This module introduces students to the important subject of international business, exploring how and why companies operate internationally. The module examines the international environment Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) operate in, exploring how that environment affects the activities of MNEs. Students will study how MNE managers seek to maximize value and minimize costs by locating different activities in different countries around the world. The module not only builds theoretical understanding of international expansion, but also seeks to apply this understanding to explain how organizations perform in host countries and how organizations can adapt to the dynamic international business environment. Key issues that are explored in this module include internationalisation, cross-cultural management and sustainability.