Master of Supply Chain Management

This subject covers the key concepts of the field of operations management, and its role and contribution to supply chain management and general management. Topics include operations strategy, operations focus, order-winners/ qualifiers, operations based competitiveness, and the relationship between operational capabilities, market requirements and overall business strategy. It also includes key topics in capacity management, technology strategy, facilities location and design, process choice and quality management factors. Opportunities for redesigning and improving supply chains will be highlighted. Benefits of continuous improvement are covered, based on world’s best practices and companies. The role of leadership in ensuring workforce alignment and motivation is developed and illustrated. Key principles of business excellence are outlined and applied to supply chain and general management.

This subject is aimed at developing an advanced understanding of the principles, concepts and approaches employed in the management of supply chains between industrial, commercial, and governmental organisations. A key element is the design and improvement of business processes. It includes the management of materials, people and information in supply relationships. It also includes cost-savings, time-to-market, new product development, and consideration of supply management in these and other strategic contexts. Strategic issues relevant to the management of supply chains are covered. These include management of trading partner relationships, use of information technology, configuration of logistics networks and managing international supply chains.

The supply chain within an industry or organisation involves the configuration and operation of the fulfilment processes of orders placed within the operation(s). The subject will examine the role of standards and cutting-edge technologies through practical case studies and theoretical frameworks. The subject is focused on how the adoption and implementation of supply chain technologies requires developing appropriate processes, capabilities and supporting network structure. It examines the strategic changes required at the organisational and supply chain level for the implementation of emerging technologies considering the organisation’s business strategy, technical capability and human resource function in managing the supply chain, procurement, logistics, and distribution.

This subject covers key frameworks for making complex business decisions and implementing using the philosophy and techniques of project management. It specifically covers an in-depth study of decision trees and risk analysis, followed by decision implementation and organisation. Case studies relating to supply chain management will be used to develop applied knowledge of how to use these procedures to formulate and implement strategy in supply chains. Project management concepts and applications are developed as the powerful approach for managing strategy implementation, change management and facilities development. Project management philosophies and techniques are applied to supply chain design and implementation.

This subject will introduce students to analytical tools that can be used to solve supply chain problems. These problems will relate to the major drivers of supply chain performance, these being location of facilities, levels of inventory, transportation networks and information exchanges. Typical examples of problems will include: designing the supply chain distribution network; planning demand and supply in a supply chain; and, planning and managing inventories in a supply chain. The analytical tools used to solve each of the problems will be illustrated with their application in computer software packages such as Microsoft Excel. In the discussion of these tools, the managerial context in which they are used and the managerial levers for improvement that they support will be stressed. The design of supply networks, transport optimisation systems and distribution centres will be considered from an analytic perspective.

This subject will cover both the basic concepts of the procurement, logistics and distribution functions, as well as the challenges faced within each area. With respect to the procurement area, specific topics will include: make-or-buy decision (outsourcing); supplier selection processes and criteria; supplier relationships; supplier performance evaluation; strategic cost management; product design and sourcing strategy; e-sourcing (auctions vs. relationships); negotiation; global sourcing and compliance issues. For the logistics/distribution area, topics will include: transportation management; warehousing; materials handling; third-party logistics; forecasting and collaborative planning, global logistics; and, reverse logistics. A strong focus of this subject will be on ways through which organisations can integrate these functions internally and coordinate them externally so that performance improvements for these organisations and their supply chain partners can be realised.

This subject will cover key and emerging topics in supply chain management. These include sustainable economic development, innovation management in SCM, globalisation impacts on SCM, sourcing from China and India, reverse logistics capabilities and needs, climate change impacts on SCM and new internet and other technological factor applications that impact on supply chains. Advanced readings and seminar discussions on these and other new and emerging topics will be used.
Further examples of emerging issues will be related to management of staff, employee relations, and organisational structures and governance systems to support supply chain excellence.

This subject is a capstone, bringing an integrative view of supply chain management and business competitiveness. Via primarily case studies, it will develop and illustrate key strategic supply chain concepts, such as design, operation and improvement strategies of supply chains. International case studies will be used to create a world view of best practices in SCM. This includes management of risk, prices, costs and service levels in SCM. Organisational structures needed to deliver supply chain strategy and governance, control and reporting systems will be emphasised.

This research-focussed subject will draw together, and enable students to apply, the knowledge and skills they have acquired in the Master of Supply Chain Management program. They will undertake a practical investigation of a supply chain challenge/issue and develop a plan for how to solve it. Within a specific supply chain domain to be chosen by the student and agreed by the subject coordinator, this subject will require investigation of all major aspects of the supply chain. It will typically involve a feasibility study or business plan for a supply chain improvement, design or change.

This subject develops knowledge of theories of human behaviour in an organisational setting, and leadership theories and practices.

Topics covered include:

• Managing employees for peak performance
• Developing effective leaders through coaching and mentoring
• Evaluating the role of people management for organisational performance

This subject provides the financial analysis and other methods that managers need, in order to lead organisations, monitor and control operations and allocate resources. It also provides an understanding of specific non-financial measures and metrics associated with long-term sustainability and business success.

This subject provides the core concepts of price theory, and economic policy and management for professional managers. It provides students with the knowledge of rational micro- and macro- frameworks that are necessary for professional managers to be effective in decision making and resource allocation.

This subject introduces the basic theoretical framework of marketing including segmentation, buyer behaviour, product management, market communications, channel management and pricing decisions. Students are also introduced to basic concepts in market research, management or marketing programs and marketing ethics.