Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2024-2025

Module BUSI4AR15: Fundamentals of Operations and Supply Chain Management

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI4AR15: Fundamentals of Operations and Supply Chain Management

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 90 Availability Available in 2024/2025 Module Cap
Tied to N2PB09

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To provide students with an in-depth understanding of the complexities of managing operations and supply chains.
  • To provide students with an in-depth understanding of measuring operations and supply chain performance
  • To provide students with an understanding of different mechanisms for improving operations and supply chain performance

Content

  • Operations Strategy
  • Introduction to Supply Chain and Supply Chain Strategy
  • Impact of global trends on operations and supply chain strategy
  • Design of products and services and its impact on supply chain
  • Process design and concept of flow and Lean Principles and Theory of Constraints
  • Operations Planning and control including Sales and Operations Planning
  • Quality management and ensuring quality across the supply chain
  • Order to delivery strategies
  • Principles of supply chain network design
  • Demand Planning and basics of demand forecasting
  • Inventory management
  • Distribution Planning
  • Inter-organisational relations, e.g. partnerships, internal and external integration, customer relationship management and supply chain coordination
  • Causes and remedies for bullwhip effect
  • Coordination in supply chain
  • Overview of enterprise systems and digital technologies in operations and supply chain management
  • Measuring Operations and Supply Chain performance

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of the module, students will : 
  • Develop critical understanding of key supply chain processes and how challenges associated with disruptions, globalization and the volatile environment impact those processes 
  • Develop critical understanding of how supply chain processes impact organisational and supply chain performance 
  • Develop pecialised knowledge of the suitability of relevant analytical techniques needed to plan and manage operations and supply chains. Develop critical understanding of the role of different digital technologies in managing and improving performance of supply chains.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of the module, students should: 
  • Be able to design processes and plan operations within an organisation 
  • Be able to develop operations and supply chain strategies considering the external environment , internal resources and capabilities and competitive priorities of the business 
  • Be able to evaluate, measure and monitor operations and supply chain performance
Key Skills:
  • By the end of the module, students should demonstrate enhanced skills of: 
  • Effective written communication 
  • Oral presentation 
  • Planning, organising and time-management 
  • Problem solving and analysis 
  • Data presentation and visualisation , interpreting and using data

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

  • The module is delivered via a blend of on-site face-to-face teaching followed by online learning. On-site teaching will typically include a mix of taught input, group work and discussion, use of case studies to emphasize real-world applications, and industry-informed sessions. Online learning will be divided into study weeks and will typically include 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 resouces vary according to the learning outcomes but typically include: video content, directed reading, reflective activities and opportunities for self-assessment.
  • The written assignment will enable students to further develop their understanding and skills. It will test students’ acquisition and articulation of their knowledge and understanding and their ability to apply what they have learned in a particular context.
  • The individual video presentation is designed to test student’s subject specific knowledge and skills and oral presentation skills.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
On-campus workshops (a combination of taught input, groupwork, discussion, case discussions and industry-informed sessions in blocks 4 over a 4 day teaching block 3 hours 12
Online guided learning (a combination of facilitated sessions*, guided activities) 8 weekly 6 hours 48
Preparation, reading and other independent study 90
Total 150
*This could cover synchronous live sessions (e.g. Zoom), will typically feature 1-2 synchronous (webinar) sessions and asynchronous (e.g. discussion boards, reading activities, video etc.)

Summative Assessment

Component: Coursework Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Individual written assignment 2000 words 60% Individual written assignment
Individual video presentation including commentary about the process of developing the video 5 minutes 40% Individual video presentation (5 minutes)

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