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Unit outline_

QBUS3320: Supply Chain Management

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The supply chain is the network of companies or organisational components that together deliver a product or service to the final customer. The objective of supply chain management is to effectively coordinate the flows of materials, information and capital in supply chains. This unit will introduce the important concepts and tools used in Supply Chain management. The topics covered may include: Inventory management and risk pooling; supply chain dynamics; network planning; supply chain integration; and global logistics. In addition, the unit will discuss the design of contracts within the supply chain to achieve good outcomes.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Business Analytics
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
ECMT2640 or QBUS2330 or QBUS2350 or QBUS3340 or QBUS3350
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Erick Li, erick.li@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final exam
Written exam
50% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Simulation
Online simulation
10% Week 08
Due date: 19 Apr 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 24 Apr 2024
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment EXCEL homework
Competency assessment
20% Week 11
Due date: 10 May 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 14 May 2024
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment group assignment Group project
Written report
20% Week 13
Due date: 24 May 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 27 May 2024
3500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Simulation: Students will log into Harvard Business Publishing to participate in the Global Supply Chain Simulator. Once the online simulation is completed, no additional submission is required. Each student has 3 chances to run the simulation. Only the best attempt will be used for marking.
  • Group project: Each group (4 students) solves two quantitative cases. Case 1) is related to Total Quality Management and Case 2) is related to supply chain procurement.
  • EXCEL homework: This is a mathematical exercise with EXCEL submission. Students must build EXCEL models to answer all of the questions. Type your explanations in text boxes in your EXCEL file. There is no word limit.
  • Final exam: This is a closed-book exam containing short-answer questions, numerical questions, and mini-cases.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to supply chain management Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1
Week 02 1. Review of economic order quantity (EOQ) model; 2. Newsvendor model when the demand distribution is known; 3. Risk-pooling effect Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 1. Robust solution to a newsvendor model when the demand distribution is unknown; 2. Facility-location model; 3. Data-driven inventory management Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 04 Retail assortment optimisation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3
Week 05 1. Efficient supply chain strategies; 2. Commonality and modularity; 3. Bullwhip effect and counter-measures Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2
Week 06 1. Responsive supply chain strategies; 2. Quick responses when yield is uncertain; 3. Quick response when demand is uncertain Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 07 1. Information flow in supply chains; 2. Drop-shipping model and tax avoidance strategy; 3. Opaque selling and other innovative e-business supply chain models Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3
Week 08 1. Financial flows in supply chain; 2. Payment solutions; 3. Operational hedging Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3
Week 09 Product design and incentive compatibility Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 10 Sustainable operations management Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1
Week 11 Supply chain contracting with full information Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 12 Supply chain contracting with full information (continued) Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 13 1. Supply chain contracting with full information 2. Brief review for final exam Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Supply chain management: Strategy, planning and operation. Sunil Chopra and Peter Meindl. Pearson.

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. explain various contemporary concepts and best practices in supply chain management, including responsive and efficient supply chain strategies, the bullwhip effect, key performance indicators, and sustainable supply chain management
  • LO2. prescribe counter-measures to mitigate the bullwhip effect, identify major supply chain risks, and align supply chain strategies with product characteristics
  • LO3. develop quantitative models to coordinate product flow, financial flow, and information flow in supply chains.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9
LO1         
LO2         
LO3         

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.