Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2020-2021 (archived)

Module BUSI48W15: Green Supply Chain and Logistics Systems

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI48W15: Green Supply Chain and Logistics Systems

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2020/21 Module Cap None.
Tied to N2P109
Tied to N2P909

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • Introduce how businesses and their extended supply chains are having an impact on Sustainability (Economic, Social, and Environmental)
  • Provide a critical understanding of how sustainability creates trade-offs in supply chain processes like procurement and often influences the supply chain structure.
  • Explore the critical drivers, key barriers, and successful interventions in implementing the principles of sustainability across the supply chains.
  • Discuss the emerging landscape and importance of sustainability across supply chain practices, based on real-life case studies.

Content

  • Introduction to Supply Chains and its impact on Sustainability
  • Evolution of the idea of sustainability and the key drivers
  • Sustainable Procurement Practices and Challenges
  • Key Stakeholders and Trade-offs
  • Reconfiguring Operations and Supply Chain
  • Developing a Strategy for Sustainable Supply Chains
  • Creating Sustainable Eco-System
  • Markets for Sustainable Goods/ Services
  • Certification & Carbon Management
  • Sustainability and Technology

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of the module, candidates will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of:
  • The role of Sustainability in shaping the current and future industry landscape and embedded supply chains .
  • The process to critically evaluate technical and managerial issues related to Sustainability across the supply 
chain.
  • The trade-offs and interventions towards improving sustainable performance of supply chain processes.
  • The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how Organizations via their supply chain practices can contribute
  • The emerging market trends and technology that are enabling Sustainability across the supply chains
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Ability to identify the underlying assumptions and theoretical differences in Sustainable supply chain management.
Key Skills:
  • Written communication; planning, organising and time management; problem solving and analysis; interpretation of data; computer literacy.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lecture sessions: theory will be outlined together with the relevant research evidence to enable a critical and evidenced-based approach. Seminars will take the form of tutorials and site visits designed to facilitate students to reflect on and apply the knowledge gained of legislations to real-life cases and industrial companies.
  • These themes will be explored through a variety of media including videos, written cases and practical exercises. In this way each student will be challenged to apply the theoretical and evidence-based material from lectures and also gain an appreciation of the tools and techniques commonly used by leaders and followers.
  • The summative written assignment (which will be topic or case based) will test students’ theoretical understanding, their knowledge of relevant evidence, and their ability to apply these to contemporary settings

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 10 Weekly 2 hours 20
Seminars 4 Forthnightly 1 hour 4
Reading, project work and preparation 126
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Written Assignment Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Individual written assignment based on a specific topic or case study 2500 words (max) 100% Same

Formative Assessment:

A range of formative assessment methods will be used, including case-study based exercises, group presentations and group discussions, simulation exercises and business games.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University