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2017/2018  KAN-CSCEO1007U  Decision Making in Supply Chain Management

English Title
Decision Making in Supply Chain Management

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for MSc in Economics and Business Administration
Course coordinator
  • Günter Prockl - Department of Operations Management (OM)
Main academic disciplines
  • Supply chain management and logistics
Last updated on 30-05-2017

Relevant links
Learning objectives
To achieve the grade 12, students should meet the following learning objectives with no or only minor mistakes or errors:
  • Identify typical problem symptoms in operations and supply chain management and relate the symptoms to standard problems in the field;
  • Identify and describe the relevant decision elements that relate to the specific nature of the single problem and the related approaches for supporting decisions on potential solutions;
  • Identify the appropriate methods and instruments to support solution development for the decision problem;
  • Apply basic models and terminology for developing principal solutions and to evaluate and discuss the developed solutions in a broader context of supply chain thinking;
  • Reflect constraints of the solutions and show know how to discuss the respective limitations in the broader context of supply chain management thinking.
Examination
Decision Making in Supply Chain Management:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Size of written product Max. 10 pages
Assignment type Case based assignment
Duration 24 hours to prepare
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Winter
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Course content and structure

The overall aim of the course is to develop students’ competence in terms of basic approaches, methods and instruments that support key decisions in supply chain configuration, planning and mobilization.

The course introduces important decision-making problems related to the configuration, planning and mobilization of modern supply chains. Its basic intention is to reflect the specific nature of the problem settings in this context and to provide the students with a sound overview of the standard problems. The course introduces the repertoire of standard methods and instruments supporting those important decisions, and develops students´ ability to match specific decision-making problems with appropriate approaches to solving them. Beyond that, it introduces more specific examples and approaches to planning and decision-making support and thus explores the complexity that is involved in configuring and planning decisions within a supply chain management environment.
Finally, it also briefly addresses specific practical challenges that go beyond the pure methodological issues of tools and touches upon topics such as overcoming human resistance or implementing the instruments into planning software.
Overall, the course provides students with the skills to identify the nature of key decision-making problems, the applicability of supporting instruments and potential limitations in the context of supply chain management.
Teaching methods
Teaching is based on lectures and class discussions that deliver the basic knowledge of the problems and context of supply chain management. Class lectures and discussions are supported with case studies and real-life examples as illustrations of the problem settings. When appropriate, guest lecturers are invited to illustrate the problem in detail and explore the specific contexts of real-life environments. Additionally, class assignments are set to deepen the students' understanding of the fundamental approaches and develop their thoughts and arguments more thoroughly.
Feedback during the teaching period
During the semester, office hours may be used for feedback.
For their individual preparation, students are provided with a list of selected exercises from the text book. Based on their input, one class is dedicated to discussing potential solutions for selected exercises. Students are further encouraged to discuss solutions in groups (peer-to-peer feedback).
Tutors will moderate the discussions and may provide additional input.
Students may finally "benchmark" their learning progress against a past exam paper (supplied).
Problems in finding potential approaches for solutions may be discussed in the exam preparation class.
Student workload
Teaching 33 hours
Readings, Excercises, Calculations, Preparation Exam 173 hours
Expected literature

Russell, Roberta; Taylor, Bernard: Operations and Supply Chain  Management, 8th ed, Wiley, 2014 ISBN: 978-1-118-80890-0.

 
A list with supplementary literature (journal articles) will be provided closer to the course start.
Last updated on 30-05-2017