Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2026-2027

Module BUSI48Z15: Global Supply Chain Leadership

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI48Z15: Global Supply Chain Leadership

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2026/2027 Module Cap None.
Tied to N2P109
Tied to N2PF09
Tied to N2R201
Tied to N5R201

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To provide a multi-faceted perspective on how leaders make decisions in modern global supply chains.
  • To introduce the theories and practices of leadership models and of their application to a supply chain scenario.
  • To provide an overview of how decisions are made in complex supply chains and the role of leadership in strategically managing a global supply chain, with reference to real-life case studies.
  • To provide a critical understanding of analytical methods of decision-making and introduce the students to managerial issues being faced by supply chains.

Content

  • Drivers for economic globalization (labour costs, resources, regulation, etc).
  • Global supply chain strategy.
  • Cultural impacts of global supply chains.
  • Human and environmental health impacts of global supply chains.
  • Decision-making and operations.
  • Logistics in global supply chains.
  • Outsourcing and partnering decision-making.
  • Conflict resolution in partnerships and contracts.
  • Inventory policy decisions across global supply chains
  • Global supply chain risks, robustness and resilience.
  • Litigation and dispute resolution across borders.
  • Human and environmental health impacts
  • Decision Making and Operations:
  • Outsourcing and Partnering decision making
  • Conflict resolution in partnerships and contracts
  • Inventory policy decisions
  • Trademark, protection of intellectual property
  • Litigation and dispute resolution across borders

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of the module, candidates will have: -
  • Developed advanced knowledge and understanding of how to develop global supply chain strategies to ensure that supply chains are resilient and sustainable.
  • Developed a critical understanding of the complexities involved in global supply chains and international logistics.
  • Developed advanced knowledge and a critical understanding of the relevant theories and analytic techniques to manage global supply chains and international logistics.
  • Developed advance knowledge and understanding of the different mechanisms to ensure that global supply chains are designed to be resilient and sustainable.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Ability to identify the underlying assumptions and theoretical differences in different global supply chain strategies as applied to sustainable supply chain management and logistics systems.
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 green legislation 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 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 Attendance Monitored
Lectures 10 Weekly 2 hours 20 Yes
Workshops 4 Fortnightly 1 hour 4 Yes
Preparation and Reading 1 126
Total 150

Summative Assessment

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

Formative Assessment:

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


Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.