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2020/2021  KAN-CCMVV4058U  Transitioning from linear to circular supply chains

English Title
Transitioning from linear to circular supply chains

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Quarter
Start time of the course Second Quarter
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Min. participants 0
Max. participants 80
Study board
Study Board for MSc in Economics and Business Administration
Course coordinator
  • Jesper Clement - Department of Marketing (Marketing)
Main academic disciplines
  • CSR and sustainability
  • Innovation
  • Supply chain management and logistics
Teaching methods
  • Blended learning
Last updated on 15/12/2020

Relevant links
Learning objectives
The course objective is to familiarize students with the relevance of transitioning the supply chains of current linear production systems to circular supply chains. Students will gain insights into the impacts of linear production systems and how circular economy and related supply chains are offering a first answer to these challenges. The course will introduce related theories and concepts underlying these circular production systems and present current and past developments of the area. It will enable them to assess and discuss the transition from linear supply chains over closed loops to circular economy. They will learn how circular supply chains and related business models create value and how to identify opportunities and challenges on the way of implementing a circular supply chains. The students will be able to:
  • Reflect on the differences of linear and circular supply chains
  • Discuss theories and practices for circular supply chains
  • Identify challenges and opportunities for circular supply chains
Examination
Transitioning from linear to circular supply chains:
Exam ECTS 7.5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Size of written product Please see text below
No page limit and students have 4 hours to complete the exam.
Assignment type Written assignment
Duration Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Winter and Winter
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If the number of registered candidates for the make-up examination/re-take examination warrants that it may most appropriately be held as an oral examination, the programme office will inform the students that the make-up examination/re-take examination will be held as an oral examination instead
Description of the exam procedure

The exam is “open book”, i.e. the student will have access to all aids. The assessment and grading of the exams is conducted reflecting the learning objectives of the course.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

Course Content and structure

Present supply chain and sustainable supply chain operations have proven to be unable to sufficiently deal with the resulting environmental and social challenges. The adoption of circular supply chains, however, has the potential to offer a paradigm shift by changing our understanding of value creation, business models and production processes. The course will introduce the basic concepts on sustainable supply chain management and critically reflect the areas of improvement with this generally linear approach. Taking this criticism as a point of departure, the course will introduce the students to the theories and concepts underlying circular economy and circular supply chains. By discussing and working with current and past developments of the topic, students will gain an understanding where circular economy can give answers to the shortcomings of a mainly linear economic value chain model. This will enable students to assess and discuss the transition from linear to circular supply chain configurations.

 

The course objective is to provide the students with an overview of current developments in the area of sustainability. Opportunities will be discussed which arise in connection with “closing the loop” of supply chains. Among others, the students will gain in-depth knowledge on relevant business models, different logistics and procurement approaches, and tools which facilitate the implementation of circularity. The students will be able to assess their own work environment and identify possible opportunities which arise when adopting a circular business approach.

 

Key topics include the following related to the course “Transitioning from linear to circular supply chains”:

 

  • Introduction to supply chain management and linear production systems
  • Critical assessment of linear production systems
  • Introduction to circular supply chains and related concepts (e.g. Biological and technical nutrients, Industrial Ecology etc.)
  • Strategic design and implementation of circular supply chains
  • Business models for circular supply chains and related challenges and opportunities
  • Product, service and business process innovation within the circular economy
  • Transformation of society and production systems
  • Performance analysis in circular supply chains

 
Description of the teaching methods
The course follows a mixed-methods approach with an acute degree of involvement of and dialogue with the students. Cases and exercises are analyzed and discussed to illustrate the theoretical foundation of the course and link it to practical examples.
Feedback during the teaching period
Feedback will be provided as part of group works and discussions.
Student workload
Lectures 33 hours
Preparation for classes and exam 170 hours
Expected literature

De Angelis, R., Howard, M., Miemczyk, J. (2018): Supply Chain Management and the circular economy: towards the circular supply chain, in: Production, Planning and Control, Vol 29, Nr. 6, pp. 424 – 437.

Geisendorfer, M., Morioka, S. N., de Carvalho, M. M., Evans, S. (2018): Business modes and supply chains for the circular economy, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 190, No., pp. 712 – 721.

Genovese, A., Acquaye, A.A., Figueroa, A., Koh, S.C.L. (2017) Sustainable supply chain management and the transition towards a circular economy: Evidence and some applications, in: Omega, Volume 66, Part B, pp. 344-357.
Last updated on 15/12/2020