MO9412 - Introduction to the Marketing and Supply Chain Management Interface

What will I learn on this module?

The module aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills of applying various marketing and supply chain management (SCM) knowledge at the interface of these two subject disciplines to support business decision making. The module is delivered to you using weekly webinar-based lectures and class-based seminars, principally concentrating on developing your subject knowledge and its related understanding. This module will cover twelve topics:

Marketing and SCM interface at the strategic level.

Process technology and improvement strategy.

Purchasing and supply strategy.

Understanding Supply Chain Management, relationships and dynamics.

Supply chain risk management and resilience.

E-commerce, e-procurement and omnichannel fulfilment.

Understanding marketing, the core marketing mix framework and the new marketplace.

Branding and logistics interface.

Creating customer value: new product development and pricing.

The global customer: understanding how customer behave and decision-making influences.

Integrated marketing communications (IMC): development of digital marketing and channels.

Creating customer satisfaction.

You will become aware of the role of the two business areas of marketing and supply chain management and how they interface and integrate with each other. Furthermore, you will gain an understanding and development of various business problem-solving models related to these areas.

On completing the module, you will be able to select and apply the appropriate knowledge to support business problem-solving in a variety of situations where marketing and supply chain interact. You will have developed relevant skills to support the theoretical material introduced throughout the module.

How will I learn on this module?

The one-hour weekly webinar-based lecture will provide you with a theoretical underpinning of the module content, supported by a two-hour weekly class-based seminar which will give you an opportunity to practice the various techniques and topics studied, allowing you to build up a subject proficiency and the necessary skills of interpretation and communication of findings.

There will be additional exercises housed on the module’s e-learning portal that will permit you to undertake further study independently. The module has a supporting reading list that provides you with an opportunity to see how the various decision-making techniques are applied to further managerial and research-based problems.

Your directed study will support the work you have undertaken in the contact sessions. You will be expected to keep up to date with your lecture programme. In addition, you will be set a selection of exercises to complete in seminars. To aid with self-assessment on progress, solutions to these exercises will be made available to you on the e-learning portal where appropriate.

Independent learning time is set aside for learning activities, self-identified by you, to gain a deeper and broader knowledge of the subject. You may complete the review exercises or undertake further reading.

The problem-solving nature of the seminars means that tutor (formative) feedback will be received continuously. Solutions to both seminars and directed learning activity on the e-learning portal will be aid knowledge and provide formative assessment.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Support will be provided to you by a member of academic staff leading the module and providing the webinar-based lecture input. A team of academic staff are allocated to groups of about 25 students at seminars, which provides a closer, more personal academic support. These groups are typically based on study programme cohorts, so you will be taught here alongside fellow members from your degree.

Your module is supported by an e-learning portal, which houses lecture materials, seminar exercises and data files, alongside assessment details and various support facilities such as recordings of certain lectures and IT applications, alongside other electronic support facilities such as indicated above.

You will be provided with a wide-ranging electronic reading list that comprises of various academic reports, conference papers and journal articles.

The module assessment is a 2,000-word individual assignment consisting of a literature review that assesses application of contemporary research and business practice to a problem on the interface between the market and supply chain functions, either from the manufacturing or service sectors. This assessment will be distributed at the start of your teaching semester. Its early release will encourage your active participation in the learning process throughout the semester. The eLearning portal will be used to permanently host this task after release to ensure that you can access the information required at all times.

You will be receiving extensive support for your assessment including the assessment brief, marking criteria, marking guide, assignment surgery alongside on-line and face-to-face communication by the module leader and the teaching team. Seminar time will be dedicated to assessment briefing and associated formative feedback.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:

Identify and apply a variety of Marketing and Supply Chain Management knowledge and understand how it is informed by theory and research. [MLO1]

Apply Marketing and Supply Chain Management knowledge to the analysis and interpretation of business operations to solve complex problems [MLO2]

Intellectual / Professional skills & Abilities:

Develop creative thinking to Marketing and Supply Chain Management to enhance your understanding of interfacing and overlapping considerations. [MLO3]

Demonstrate competence with the necessary tools and techniques to evaluate, analyse and implement appropriate solutions. [MLO4]

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

Demonstrate creative and critical thinking skills that challenge the thinking of self and others in the context of the marketing and supply chain interface. [MLO5]

How will I be assessed?

Formative Assessment:

Formative assessment will take place through group work during the interactive seminars within the modules, capturing assessment of pre-seminar reading list preparation, theory/practice related debate and reflection in the module seminars facilitated by the seminar tutor. Further formative assessment and feedback will be facilitated through the weekly module seminars hosted by the seminar tutor.

Summative Assessment:

You will have one single individual 2,000-word assignment that includes different tasks requiring a critical evaluation of the different subjects covered during the module in order to integrate the Marketing and Supply Chain Management, and the application of relevant theories and strategies. The assignment will be supported through key lectures and seminars interventions. The summative assessment will reference contemporary Marketing and Supply Chain Management issues and challenges. It assesses module learning outcomes MLO1-MLO5.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

This module is designed to equip you with an introductory level of knowledge and skills to analyse, formulate and develop the necessary comprehension about the interface between the Marketing and Supply Chain Management functions as experienced in both manufacturing and service contexts.



This module provides you with a theoretical understanding of how these two key business functions interact and how this knowledge can be applied to various business contacts by means of practical, seminar-based exercises. You will work on key concepts to support specific aspects of your assessment. You will undertake various assessment tasks, both formative and summative, emphasising your findings and problem-solving interpretation.

These theoretical, practical and interpretative skills are directly transferable to your working life through part-time employment, placement or full-time graduate role. Your other experiences within the module centre on support reading, giving you additional awareness of the broad applicability of the module content.

The delivery of the module is by webinar-based lectures and interactive class-based seminars that are both scheduled weekly. The module assessment is by a 2,000-word individual assignment.

Course info

UCAS Code N1NS

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad

Department Newcastle Business School

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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