MO9703 - Strategic Procurement and International Logistics

Critical reflection on knowledge, experience and practice underpins the learning and teaching philosophy along with the explicit development of competence. This is key to your learning on the module. To put this in place, the module will use both lectures and interactive seminars covering the key issues in the key issues in strategic procurement and international logistics. The lectures will provide the theoretical basis of the module, with the seminars permitting the linkage of this theory to contemporary business practice relating to procurement and logistics. This set up will allow you to reflect individually on the content delivered during the lectures and to advance your thoughts and considerations at an individual level of learning prior to considering various taught frameworks collectively from a more practical perspective during your seminars.

Your module is supported by a teaching and learning plan, which outlines the formal sessions, together with the tutor-directed study and independent reading. An interactive approach to lecture sessions will draw upon the directed learning undertaken and your own experiences. Throughout, the emphasis will be on high levels of your participation, both individually and within small groups or teams particularly in the seminar settings where your learning will be centred on case study consideration. You can expect the reflective-practitioner approach to learning to be embedded in all seminar sessions through undertaking activities which facilitate you to apply theory to ‘real-life’ situations, critically analysing and making recommendations for appropriate ways forward for procurement and logistics from both organisational and individual perspectives, informed by international developments.

Directed learning will centre upon a range of activities including pre-reading, preparation for interactive activities and use of the discussion board on the e-learning platform. Independent learning will centre upon you identifying and pursuing areas of interest in relation to the subject area.

The module is supported by a teaching and learning plan which outlines the formal lecture and seminar sessions, together with the tutor-directed study and independent reading. An interactive approach to lecture sessions will draw upon the directed learning undertaken and your own experiences. Emphasis will be on high levels of participation, both individually and within small groups or teams, particularly in the tutor-led seminar sessions. You will experience a reflective-practitioner approach to learning to be embedded in all seminar sessions through undertaking activities which facilitate you to apply theory to 'real-life' situations, critically analysing and making recommendations for appropriate ways forward for the organization/individual.

To support your seminars, you will, guided by the teaching and learning plan, engage in directed learning. This will centre upon a range of activities including pre-reading, preparation for interactive activities and use of the discussion board on the e-learning platform. This is further reinforced by your independent learning.

You will be supported through the module with dedicated tutor-led seminar sessions covering the module’s summative assessment. The e-learning portal plays a significant role in supporting your learning. It will provide a source of lecture and seminar materials, alongside an electronic reading lists and recordings of lectures and sessions relating to guidance for your module assessment.

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.

Knowledge & Understanding:
• Understand and critically evaluate individual or organisational decision making on strategic procurement and international logistics management contexts. [MLO1]
• Understand and critically assess the application of contemporary developments in strategic procurement and international logistics management. [MLO2]

The summative assessment for the module will be one individual assignment.

Individual Assignment (100%)
Individual assignment: (4,000 words): a critical evaluation of various aspects of strategic procurement and international logistics management undertaken with reference to practical organisational contexts. This will be submitted electronically, with appropriate feedback provided against set criteria.

This will assess MLO1 and MLO2.

Formative feedback is provided through academic and peer interaction in the weekly seminar activities relating to the various case studies deployed which are aligned to the theory presented in the lectures, alongside guidance relating to the summative assessment for the module.

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This module aims to provide you with an appreciation of the synergy between strategic procurement and international logistics management. Focus is given to processes that add value through the production and delivery of services and products in the supply chain, and the tools needed to manage these processes effectively. Module content comprises two key areas, purchasing and supply chain management, and materials management and international logistics. You will be given a comprehensive understanding of contemporary approaches to strategic procurement and international logistics management throughout the supply chain. For example, you will be introduced to some of the digital aspects in supply chains and supply chain continuity management and how these aspects can be managed from a strategic procurement and international logistics perspective. In addition, you will be introduced to the advantages of various aspects of digitalisation in relation to international logistics and strategic procurement. On completion of the module, you will be able to critically analyse the approaches to managing procurement and international logistics management used by a variety of product and service organizations operating in a global business environment which will inform an individual report-based assessment. Research-rich learning plays crucial role in the module, particularly placing you as the participant through enquiry-based and research tutored interventions which inform both your interactive seminars and your summative assessment. These interactive seminars also serve the purpose of formatively assessing your understanding of the concepts taught during the lectures and their practical applications.