International Logistics and Supply Chain Management

June 4 to June 29, 2012

The course aims to provide the students with knowledge about the complex and dynamic nature of international logistics and supply chain management and to prepare the student with the skills needed in an international environment with increasing demands on efficiency and effectiveness in this area of studies. The course focuses on the role of management and how international logistics and supply chain management can function as a source of competitive advantage. In addition, the course will provide students with knowledge about the use and impact of e-commerce in logistics and supply chain management.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Syllabus

Level: B
Credits: 12 ECTS credits

Pre-requisites

• One year of undergraduate level studies in business administration, economics or law
• Fluency in English equivalent to at least a 550 (old scale) 213 (new scale) TOEFL score

Objectives

The aim of the course is to achieve an understanding and orientation of concepts of logistics and supply chain management and an understanding and knowledge of the contemporary theoretical and practical developments in the area of international logistics and supply chain management. The course takes new developments in the field into consideration, in particular the role and the impact of new technological applications like e-commerce in logistics and supply chain.

Contents

With a mix of teaching methods including seminars and lecturers, the course aims at introducing the student to the complex and dynamic nature of international logistics and supply chain management. With increasing levels of internationalization and demands on efficiency and effectiveness in international supply chains and in international logistical arrangements, the course focuses on the role of management and how international logistics and supply chain management can function as a source of competitive advantage.

In order to increase class interaction upon arrival, students will be required to read in advance literature related to the course.  This will be sent in advance once the students have been admitted to the summer programme.

Teaching Methods

The course is based on three learning processes. The first is traditional theory-literature studies-study questions-seminar preparations in groups-seminars. The second is a written course project with specific focus on international logistics and supply chain management with an international team working together. The third is participation in seminars and field visits in order to achieve increased understanding of the complexity and dynamics of international logistics and supply chain management. The traditional learning is primarily based on a self-study of the literature and individual and team preparation of seminar and project work. The learning process is supported by lectures and seminars, where both theory and practice are connected. The three learning processes will partly be running in parallel.

Examination

The course is examined in three parts:

• written course project (group work)
• active participation in the mandatory seminars and field visits (individual)
• oral exam (individual).

All three examination parts must be completed satisfactorily for course credits to be awarded, and the three components are equally weighted.

Grading

The marks are given according to the ECTS scale(A, B, C, D, E and Fx).

Course literature

• Christopher, M., Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Creating Value-Adding Networks, Prentice Hall Financial Times, Harlow, Latest Edition
• Course compendium provided by JIBS