MO9638 - Strategic and Sustainable Supply Chain Management

The weekly one-hour webinar=based lectures will provide you with a theoretical underpinning of the module content, supported by a weekly two hour class-based seminar which will give you an opportunity to practice the various techniques and topics studied, allowing you to build up a subject proficiency and the necessary skills of interpretation and communication of findings.

There will be a number of additional exercises housed on the module’s e-learning portal that will permit you to undertake further study independently. The module has a supporting electronic reading list that provides you with an opportunity to see how the various decision-making techniques are applied to further managerial and research-based problems.

Your directed study will support the work you have undertaken in the contact sessions. You will be expected to keep up-to-date with your lecture programme. In addition, you will be set a selection of exercises to complete in seminars. To aid with self-assessment on progress, solutions to these exercises will be made available to you on the e-learning portal where appropriate.



The additional exercises include PDCA steps to implement continuous improvement (Kaizen) with practical exemplar solutions (for ice breaking, subject knowledge development and group presentation preparation), Pros and Cons on the European strawberry jam supply chain analysis (one of the in-class group presentation exercises to prepare for the summative presentation assessment) and a SMART move in localising the automotive supply chains for global trade (one of the within- and between-group discussion exercises for subject knowledge development).


Independent learning time is set aside for learning activities, self-identified by you, to gain a deeper and broader knowledge of the subject. You may complete the review exercises, work with the electronic support tools (such as recordings of applications) or undertake further reading.
The problem solving nature of the seminars means that tutor (formative) feedback will be received continuously. Solutions to both seminars and directed learning activity on the e-learning portal will be aid knowledge and provide formative assessment.

Support will be provided to you by a member of academic staff leading the module and providing the webinar-based lecture input. A team of academic staff are allocated to small seminar groups, which provides a closer, more personal academic support. The lectures and seminars will be interactive, involving two-way discussion involving both tutors and students. The seminar groups are based on study programme cohorts of up to 25 students, so you will be taught here alongside fellow members from your particular degree programme.



Your module is supported by an e-learning portal, which houses lecture materials, seminar exercises and data files, alongside assessment details and various support facilities, alongside other electronic support facilities such as indicated above.



You will be provided with a wide-ranging electronic reading list that comprises of various academic reports, conference papers and journal articles that showcase the application of various techniques presented in the module.



The module assessment consists of two main inter-related tasks which will be distributed throughout your teaching semester. This will encourage your active participation in the learning process throughout the semester. The eLearning portal will be used to permanently support these tasks after release to ensure that you can access the information required at all times.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:



Critique and appraise a variety of Strategic Supply Chain Management techniques and their application to the analysis and interpretation of business data for a variety of organisational applications. [MLO1]


Understand and critically evaluate the role of Strategic Supply Chain Management as an aid to decision making; through the selection of techniques to assist in the solution of business problems. [MLO2]



Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

Evidence skills in the handling of Supply Chain Management techniques and the corresponding findings of its analysis and for progression to more advanced contexts. [MLO3]



Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

Demonstrate and critically evaluate the ethical contexts relating to the achievement of sustainable strategic supply chains. [MLO4]

Formative Assessment:

The early release of the summative assessment via the e-learning Portal will encourage your active participation in the learning process throughout the semester via formative assessment. This formative assessment and feedback which will form part of your interactive seminar sessions.



Formative feedback will also be provided as part of the group-based presentation allowing feed forward into your individual report-based assessment.

Summative Assessment:

The module’s summative assessment consists of two inter-related tasks which will be distributed to you at the beginning of the teaching semester.

The eLearning portal will be used to permanently host these tasks after release to ensure that you can access the information required at all times.

Your work on these tasks will provide you with further chance to practice the various areas of Strategic Supply Chain Management, as well as forming the pre-work for a group presentation at the end of the module.

This 20 minute group-based presentation represents 20% of the module mark will be based on an investigation of an organisation identified by the group. An 80% 2,500-word individual assignment will allow you to individually use the presentation as a case study to further evaluate via secondary research the variation between Strategic Supply Chain Management practiced by the organisation and current practice evidence through an extensive literature review.

The individual assessment addresses MLO1, MLO2 and MLO4. In addition to these, the group presentation addresses MLO3.

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It is expected that you will enter employment with an appropriate level of Strategic and Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSSCM) understanding and proficiency in everyday business usage. This module provides the essential subject understanding and critically appraisal giving you a theoretical understanding of various SSSCM applications supported through practical Case Study exercises. You will work on a number of key techniques linked to which are set to practical scenarios, supporting work for practice and specific items relating to your assessment. You will undertake assessment tasks leading to an assessed presentation which places emphasis on your findings and problem interpretation. These critical, analytical, practical and interpretative skills are directly transferable to your working life, through part-time employment, placement or full-time graduate role. Your additional experiences within the module centre on support reading giving you additional awareness of the broad applicability of the module content across the wider business and management subject area.