Module BUSI4AL15: Digital Supply Chain

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI4AL15: Digital Supply Chain

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• Provide an overview of different digital technologies and how those can impact supply chain processes
• Provide a critical understanding of how digital technologies can be used to improve supply chain performance
• Explore the critical drivers, key barriers, and successful interventions in implementing digital technologies across the supply chains
• Provide an understanding of the capabilities which the organisations need to develop to implement digital technologies across the supply chain

Content

• Overview of different digital technologies used in supply chain processes such as planning, sourcing, manufacturing, delivering and return
• Choice of advanced planning and scheduling and transportation planning systems
• Supply chain control tower solutions in supply chain planning
• Artificial intelligence and its impact on supply chain performance
• Additive manufacturing technologies and its impact on supply chain performance
• Blockchain and distributed ledger technologies and their impact on improving supply chain performance
• Supply chain digital twins and its impact on supply chain performance
• Managing supply chain digital transformation projects and preparing business cases for supply chain digital transformation.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module, students should be able to:
• Develop critical understanding of the role of different digital technologies in managing and improving performance of supply chains
• Develop advanced knowledge and understanding of the different mechanisms to ensure that supply chains are designed to be resilient and sustainable
• Develop critical understanding of the capabilities needed to implement digital technologies within an organisation and with supply chain partners
• Develop advanced knowledge of the change management processed needed to implement digital technologies within an organisation and with supply chain partners.

• By the end of the module, students should be able to:-
• Develop and critically analyse different digital supply chain strategies considering the external environment, internal resources and capabilities and competitive priorities of the business
• Identify, assess and select the most appropriate portfolio of digital technologies to improve supply chain performance
• Identify appropriate capabilities needed in adopting digital technologies across the supply chain
• Design change management process to implement digital technologies within an organisation and with supply chain partners.

• By the end of the module, students should demonstrate enhanced skills of:
• Effective written communication;
• Planning, organising and time management;
• Problem solving and analysis;
• Change management and relationship management
• Team working
• Reflecting and synthesising from experience and diverse perspectives.

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

• The module is delivered via online learning divided into study weeks with activities facilitated by the teaching team and specially produced resources. Facilitated activities will make use of a range of educational technologies to include digital collaboration spaces and live online sessions. Learning resources vary according to the learning outcomes but typically include: video content, directed reading, reflective activities and opportunities for self-assessment.
• The summative assessment (an individual reflective portfolio) will enable students to further develop their understanding and reflect on their acquisition of skills, articulation of their knowledge and understanding, their ability to apply what they have learned in a particular context and synthesising their learning from the module combining their own experience and diverse perspectives of team members. The portfolio, for example, can include reflections on the industrial relevance of specific concepts, frameworks, tools, reflections on discussions with fellow students about their own experiences on adopting digital technologies in supply chains, case examples of organisations adopting or failing to adopt digital technologies in supply chains and lessons learnt from those.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

The formative assessment serves to encourage students to study regularly and to monitor their learning progress. Students will undertake a series of activities aligned to the module content, which can include group presentations, case discussions, individual or group reflections on specific topics receiving ongoing feedback on theoretical knowledge and how it is applied. Tutors provide feedback on formative work and are available for individual consultation as necessary (usually by email and video call). Written feedback will be provided through email or on Learn Ultra.

■ 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