The key to real Customer Value is effective Supply Chain Management”. Discuss

ASSIGNMENT/COURSEWORK PROFORMA

Module code:

MN5547

Assessment title:

Assignment : Global supply chain Management and Logistics

Module tutor:

Title of the assessment:

‘The key to real Customer Value is effective Supply Chain Management”. Discuss

Discuss this statement, using examples of real companies that have either achieved (or failed) to deliver customer value via their chosen supply chain strategies.

Main Objective of the assessment

To enable students to demonstrate knowledge of effective supply chain strategies in the pursuit of customer value. To support this statement using real examples of companies operating in today’s global competitive environment, showing the importance of effective SCM strategies in successfully delivering customer value.

Brief Description of the assessment:

1. 1.     Provide an in-depth critical analysis of the main argument – effective supply chain strategies can deliver customer value (literature review).

Examine research which has argued that SC strategies can deliver customer value- with examples

1. Support this with one or two examples from companies (likely to be high profile companies, e.g. Apple; Amazon.com, Caterpillar; Samsung Electronics etc, etc) how their chosen supply chain strategies have delivered or failed to deliver customer value.
2. Short Conclusion.

Learning outcomes for the assessment (refer to the appropriate module learning outcomes)

The learning outcomes focus on the theme of this module - competitive pressures for organizations to create and deliver value to customers through effective management of the supply chain. In particular, goals of service enhancement and cost reduction are explored through supply chain strategies, many of which are based on concepts from lean and agile philosophies.

Assessment criteria:

The students will be required to: The students will be required to:

Prepare an individual assignment (no shared work).

SCM theory from course text and relevant Journal publications is essential.

Full references and sources of all materials must be stated.

Weighting:

100% of module marks

Format of the assessment/coursework: (Guidelines on the expected format and length of submission):   Note: appendices are not included in the word count for this report.

Format is a formal written report of maximum word limit of 2500 words (word limit to be stated on the front cover) including diagrams (e.g. organisation charts) and tables. Report should comprise Title Page, Parts 1 – 3.

Also (not included in word count): References (essential) and Appendices (if needed).

Assessment date/submission deadline:

Indicative reading list:

Essential: Martin Christopher ‘Logistics and Supply Chain Management’, FT Pitman Publishing (Third edition 2004) ISBN

Journal publications.

Recommended: 

S. Chopra & P Meindl ‘Supply Chain Management’ 2^nd Ed. Pearson Prentice Hall ISBN: 0-13-121745-

Other information      

Use your student ids for anonymity (i.e. no student names on the assignment itself).

Students are expected to access and utilise academic articles which are accessible via the Brunel library homepage (e.g. using the “e-Journals Gateway” or the “Emerald database”).

References should be taken in the main from Journal publications. I will accept some web references, but I would like these to be kept to an absolute minimum.

I would expect over 80% of references to come from journal publications. The remaining >20% to come from web sites and text books.

I would expect a minimum of 20 references for this assignment.

Please Note:

You should also all be aware of the University’s policy on Plagiarising. Anyone caught plagiarising will be dealt with SEVERLY.