SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Syllabus
EN
IT
Learning Objectives
Sustainability is fast emerging as a major strategic consideration for business leaders. Organisations are increasingly under scrutiny from a range of stakeholders, including, customers, investors, legislators, governments and pressure groups regarding the impact their operations are having on the wider environment and society. Issues such as global warming, depletion of natural reserves, waste management, emerging producer responsibility legislation, air transport, corporate social responsibility reporting are just a few examples of the complex nature of the area.
This course is designed to introduce students to the subject of sustainability from a supply chain perspective. Specifically, the objectives of the course are to provide students with:
• Understanding and critical awareness surrounding the concepts of sustainability
• Understanding and critical awareness of the sustainable supply chains and sustaina-ble suppliers
• Comprehensive understanding of the role of green and reverse logistics
• Conceptual understanding of emerging supply chain sustainability models with re-spect to global and multitier supply chains
• Ability to evaluate and appraise emerging supply chain sustainability models and strategies
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Develop a basic understanding of supply chain management through the lens of sustainability. Develop a sound knowledge on the key drivers of sustainable purchasing processes and models with respect to global and multitier supply chains, their inter-relationships with the overall strategy, with sustainable suppliers and with the role of green and reverse logistics.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Apply analytical and problem solving skills necessary to develop solutions for a variety of sustainable Supply Chain processes and understanding what information should be exchanged for a sustainable supply chain activity, how Information technologies can support sustainable supply chain management , their inter-relationships with sustainable suppliers and with the green and reverse logistics.
MAKING JUDGEMENTS
Identify key issues within sustainable supply chain within different industries and learning to quantify the improvements that various sustainable supply chain strategies can offer.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Summarize and present sustainable Supply Chain strategies. Discuss the implication of implementing analytical tools for sustainable Supply Chain Management.
LEARNING SKILLS
Analyse critically Sustainable Supply Chain decisions. Discuss the implication of designing, planning, or operating a sustainable supply chain.
This course is designed to introduce students to the subject of sustainability from a supply chain perspective. Specifically, the objectives of the course are to provide students with:
• Understanding and critical awareness surrounding the concepts of sustainability
• Understanding and critical awareness of the sustainable supply chains and sustaina-ble suppliers
• Comprehensive understanding of the role of green and reverse logistics
• Conceptual understanding of emerging supply chain sustainability models with re-spect to global and multitier supply chains
• Ability to evaluate and appraise emerging supply chain sustainability models and strategies
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Develop a basic understanding of supply chain management through the lens of sustainability. Develop a sound knowledge on the key drivers of sustainable purchasing processes and models with respect to global and multitier supply chains, their inter-relationships with the overall strategy, with sustainable suppliers and with the role of green and reverse logistics.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Apply analytical and problem solving skills necessary to develop solutions for a variety of sustainable Supply Chain processes and understanding what information should be exchanged for a sustainable supply chain activity, how Information technologies can support sustainable supply chain management , their inter-relationships with sustainable suppliers and with the green and reverse logistics.
MAKING JUDGEMENTS
Identify key issues within sustainable supply chain within different industries and learning to quantify the improvements that various sustainable supply chain strategies can offer.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Summarize and present sustainable Supply Chain strategies. Discuss the implication of implementing analytical tools for sustainable Supply Chain Management.
LEARNING SKILLS
Analyse critically Sustainable Supply Chain decisions. Discuss the implication of designing, planning, or operating a sustainable supply chain.
Prerequisites
No pre-requisites
Program
The course is structured into 3 main sections:
The first one includes the basic concepts of Supply Chain Management and its sub-functions. They will be described as follows and will occupy the first 6 hours of the course.
1. Basic concepts of Supply Chain Management
2. Description of the Procurement function in the private and public sector
3. Production and logistics in general principles
4. Indicators and metrics in Supply Chain Management
5. Applications and efficiency of SCM
The second part is dedicated to the themes of Sustainability in the Supply Chain, from an Ecological, Social and Economic point of view. The points of analysis are the following and will occupy approximately 18 hours of lessons.
1. Overview of sustainable supply chains, including an eco-design perspective
2. Green sourcing and supplier collaboration
3. The social aspect of SCM
4. The economic aspect of SCM
5. Sustainable global supply chains
The third part is related to the innovative aspects of sustainability that includes about 18 hours of lessons and describes the following points.
1. The impact of Innovation in SCM
2. Sustainability and Innovation in SCM
3. Technologies supporting SCM
4. Digital Supply Chain and economic benefits
5. Innovation as a driver for sustainability in SCM
The first one includes the basic concepts of Supply Chain Management and its sub-functions. They will be described as follows and will occupy the first 6 hours of the course.
1. Basic concepts of Supply Chain Management
2. Description of the Procurement function in the private and public sector
3. Production and logistics in general principles
4. Indicators and metrics in Supply Chain Management
5. Applications and efficiency of SCM
The second part is dedicated to the themes of Sustainability in the Supply Chain, from an Ecological, Social and Economic point of view. The points of analysis are the following and will occupy approximately 18 hours of lessons.
1. Overview of sustainable supply chains, including an eco-design perspective
2. Green sourcing and supplier collaboration
3. The social aspect of SCM
4. The economic aspect of SCM
5. Sustainable global supply chains
The third part is related to the innovative aspects of sustainability that includes about 18 hours of lessons and describes the following points.
1. The impact of Innovation in SCM
2. Sustainability and Innovation in SCM
3. Technologies supporting SCM
4. Digital Supply Chain and economic benefits
5. Innovation as a driver for sustainability in SCM
Books
Sarkis J. and Dou Y., Green Supply Chain, Routledge, 2018 as mandatory book
Bibliography
Several videos on the general topic of sustainability are available in the Virtual Academy of Sustainability developed by the University of Bremen and available at:
http://va-bne.de/
• Mena, C. (2014) Sustainable Procurement, in Mena, C., Van Hoek, R. and Christopher, M., Leading Procurement Strategy, pp. 171-196 (this book chapter provided by the lecturer)
• McKinsey and Co. (2011). Resource revolution: Meeting the worlds energy, ma-terials, foods, and water needs (available from: http://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/sustainability-and-resource-productivity/our-insights/resource-revolution)
• Guide Jr, V.D.R. and Van Wassenhove, L.N., 2002. The reverse supply chain. Harvard business review, 80(2), pp.25-26.
• Lovins, A.B., Lovins, L.H. and Hawken, P., 2007. A road map for natural capi-talism. Harvard Business Review, 85(7/8), 172-176.
• Lubin, D., & Esty, D. (2010). The sustainability imperative. Harvard Business Review, 8( 5), 43– 50.
• Nidumolu, R., Prahalad, C.K. and Rangaswami, M.R., 2009. Why sustainability is now the key driver of innovation. Harvard Business Review, 87(9), 56-64.
http://va-bne.de/
• Mena, C. (2014) Sustainable Procurement, in Mena, C., Van Hoek, R. and Christopher, M., Leading Procurement Strategy, pp. 171-196 (this book chapter provided by the lecturer)
• McKinsey and Co. (2011). Resource revolution: Meeting the worlds energy, ma-terials, foods, and water needs (available from: http://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/sustainability-and-resource-productivity/our-insights/resource-revolution)
• Guide Jr, V.D.R. and Van Wassenhove, L.N., 2002. The reverse supply chain. Harvard business review, 80(2), pp.25-26.
• Lovins, A.B., Lovins, L.H. and Hawken, P., 2007. A road map for natural capi-talism. Harvard Business Review, 85(7/8), 172-176.
• Lubin, D., & Esty, D. (2010). The sustainability imperative. Harvard Business Review, 8( 5), 43– 50.
• Nidumolu, R., Prahalad, C.K. and Rangaswami, M.R., 2009. Why sustainability is now the key driver of innovation. Harvard Business Review, 87(9), 56-64.
Teaching methods
The delivery method includes various methods, including video-recorded lessons and also in web conferences, with a part of interactive teaching with the creation of active multimedia environments. Including the integrative delivery with e-tivity and participation in discussions; collaborative activities and case studies. The various online activities will guarantee the full quality of understanding.
Learning tests will be administered at the end of the course.
Learning tests will be administered at the end of the course.
Exam Rules
The student's assessment is based on a single and oral test.
The oral exam could last about 30 minutes and is composed of a number of 3 open questions, one question for each part of the program.
The first question relates to the theory part, i.e. the initial part of the course, the second and third questions on the practical part and business cases.
The student must demonstrate that he has understood the themes of Sustainable Supply Chain Management adequately, from the basic concepts to the applications in the business world and therefore to be able to combine theoretical themes with practice by referring to the case studies that will be presented in class.
The score of the exam is attributed by means of a mark expressed out of thirty, each question based on the quality of the answer has a maximum value of 10 points. Honors are awarded to deserving students who demonstrate particular originality and learning, but also for example with critical statements and suggestions for solving problems and improvements in business procedures.
Participation in the classroom represents an added value in terms of evaluation, both to achieve honors and to obtain 1/3 additional evaluation points.
Among the fundamental aspects for passing the oral exam which are taken into account are:
- Clarity of the answer to the oral questions, and therefore correctness in the language and the fact of identifying exactly the answer to the question
- Ability to synthesize answers and clarity of presentation
A minimum score of 18 out of 30 points is required to pass the exam.
The oral exam could last about 30 minutes and is composed of a number of 3 open questions, one question for each part of the program.
The first question relates to the theory part, i.e. the initial part of the course, the second and third questions on the practical part and business cases.
The student must demonstrate that he has understood the themes of Sustainable Supply Chain Management adequately, from the basic concepts to the applications in the business world and therefore to be able to combine theoretical themes with practice by referring to the case studies that will be presented in class.
The score of the exam is attributed by means of a mark expressed out of thirty, each question based on the quality of the answer has a maximum value of 10 points. Honors are awarded to deserving students who demonstrate particular originality and learning, but also for example with critical statements and suggestions for solving problems and improvements in business procedures.
Participation in the classroom represents an added value in terms of evaluation, both to achieve honors and to obtain 1/3 additional evaluation points.
Among the fundamental aspects for passing the oral exam which are taken into account are:
- Clarity of the answer to the oral questions, and therefore correctness in the language and the fact of identifying exactly the answer to the question
- Ability to synthesize answers and clarity of presentation
A minimum score of 18 out of 30 points is required to pass the exam.