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MGMT2016 Supply Chain Logistics
Preface to all assessments: Linked assessment on the future of Supply Chain Logistics
We are facing global challenges regarding climate change, putting ever-pressing need for a
shift to more sustainable practices into the business activities. Organisations, i.e. in the context
of being critical stakeholders in the integrated supply chain, identified their logistics strategy
and management as a key area to contribute significantly to become more sustainable and have
an impact on the triple bottom line. The shift from seeing the logistics strategy as transportation
and warehouse management towards an integral part of the corporate strategy will help refining
their service levels to the point that an organisation is functioning at its most cost-effective,
and hopefully, most energy-efficient level. And doing so, it will be adding value to world-wide
operating value chains.
The assessment should be considered as one continuous topic in three parts, starting with
exploration of the academic and industry-based literature and ending in a showroom
presentation about the future of supply chain logistics.
Assessment 1: Status Quo of Supply Chain Logistics
This individual assessment is about understanding supply chain logistics in academic and
industry-based literature. The task is about identifying relevant articles, documents, and
reports to demonstrate the current state-of-the-art integration of logistics strategy and
management in supply chains. Here, the task is to write an investigative report for a supply
manager of an internationally operating supply/value chain to support the decision-making
process for continuous investment in sustainable processes (targeting sustainability / Triple
Bottom Line) over the next 5-10 years. The following list provides some guidelines for the
structure of the report.
1. You have to decide on the scenario; that is the industry sector, company, product, or
service of the either fictional or real supply chain. Your choice sets the context for
your literature search and suggestions for potential sustainable practices. Write an
introduction about your selected scenario including the motivation for the selection
itself (max 300 words)
2. The literature (academic and industry-based) review should address supply chain
logistics (management) with a focus on your selection in Part 1 and the overall
question given above. This implies in the case of choosing a food supply chain,
articles regarding iron ore mining might either not fit or require an explanation of
how the content of the article relates to the food supply chain. The literature review
should not summarise papers but describe concepts/ideas; best only one per
paragraph. The concept/idea is then “confirmed” by using references. The literature
review should be around 500 words and it is expected to have >10 references
(Reference style is stated in the Unit Outline). The outcome of this part should lead
to Item 3), informing your overview and choice.
3. Based on the literature review, present an overview of potential risks as well as
opportunities to implement sustainable practices in your chosen scenario; including
a very brief discussion regarding the importance to mitigate the risk. You could also
show a rough order in how important you consider the risk to be addressed in your
context. Discuss two risks (2!) in more depths, e.g., suggesting a possible approach to
mitigate the risk or use the opportunity, and implement a solution. This section is
expected to be around 1000 words, with 400 for each selection.
4. The final section should conclude the report, supporting the supply chain manager in
making a decision. Make a recommendation on how to proceed. Expected to be
around 200 words.
The report should have a max of 2,000 words (+-10%) excluding references. While there is
no minimum or maximum of references, it is important to demonstrate an understanding of
the literature and industry, which is done by using references to original source in the
report. Ensure that you are selecting relevant and up-to-date sources. Note that you need to
use a reference for everything that is based on another article. If the reference is not given,
we assume it is your idea and expect that it is not to be found in the literature or in reports.