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Unit of study_

ITLS5000: Foundations of Supply Chain Management

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal evening] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Logistics and supply chain management functions can account for as much as half of the total costs of running a business. The success of the logistic and supply chain management not only impacts on the profitability of a firm but also has a significant and growing impact on customer experience and satisfaction. Logistics and supply chain management plays a major role in implementing organisational strategy and in many industries has sole responsibility for managing customer service. An understanding of the role of this activity within an organisation and how improving logistics and supply chains can assist business managers to better respond to market opportunities is essential for business students. Students undertaking this unit are given a solid grounding in the language, concepts, techniques and principles that underlie the field of logistics and supply chain management, and how knowledge of these concepts contributes towards a strategically effective and operationally efficient organisation or network of organisations.

Unit details and rules

Unit code ITLS5000
Academic unit Transport and Logistics Studies
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
TPTM6155 or TPTM5001
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Alan Win, alan.win@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Liam French, liam.french@sydney.edu.au
Ali Hajiaghabozorgi, ali.hajiaghabozorgi@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Final take-home exam
Short answer and MCQ
40% Formal exam period n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Individual report
Report
20% Week 07
Due date: 26 Apr 2020 at 23:59

Closing date: 03 May 2020
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment Group report
Report
20% Week 11
Due date: 23 May 2020 at 23:59

Closing date: 25 May 2020
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment Group presentation
Oral presentation
20% Week 12 15 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Individual report: Write a professional report explaining some of the key supply chain concepts related to an Australian retailer, as well as explaining supply chain integration and coordination and why they are important for an Australian retailer of your choice.
  • Group report: In teams of five, write a report based on findings for the client organisation analysed in the Group Project part of class lectures.
  • Group presentation: Teams will present their team project to be held during the last two weeks of tutorials/workshops. The content of the presentations should match what is included in the group report. All team members are expected to present equally and participate in responding to the questions after the presentation.
  • Final exam: The final exam will test the understanding of the material covered in the lectures, workshops and assigned readings. The final exam also tests the ability to apply this material in unfamiliar contexts. The exam will be closed-book.

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 sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Welcome session (no lecture or tutorial) Individual study (3 hr)  
Week 02 Introduction to logistics and SCM / customer and demand management Lecture and tutorial (4.5 hr)  
Week 03 Tutorials Tutorial (1.5 hr)  
Week 04 Inventory management / packaging Lecture and tutorial (4.5 hr)  
Week 05 Tutorials Tutorial (1.5 hr)  
Week 07 Procurement and supply management / financial aspects of logistics and SCM Lecture and tutorial (4.5 hr)  
Week 08 Tutorials Tutorial (1.5 hr)  
Week 09 Logistics facilities and MHE Lecture and tutorial (4.5 hr)  
Week 10 Tutorials Tutorial (1.5 hr)  
Week 11 Transport Lecture and tutorial (4.5 hr)  
Week 12 Sustainable supply and value chain innovation Lecture and tutorial (4.5 hr)  
Week 13 Revision tutorials Tutorial (1.5 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recording: 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

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

  • Pienaar, W. J., and Vogt, J. J. (2016). Business logistics management (5th ed.). Cape Town, South Africa: Oxford University Press.

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. evaluate supply chain management concepts at the strategic, tactical, and operational levels and explore their impact, individually and collectively, on business performance
  • LO2. analyse the strategic, tactical, and operational challenges faced by business in the design and long-term planning of complex supply chains
  • LO3. apply a range of qualitative and quantitative techniques for effective supply chain performance analysis and decision making
  • LO4. articulate ideas and opinions on supply chain management principles and practices in a clear and concise manner
  • LO5. synthesise a variety of ideas and opinions on a real-world business problem into an optimal supply chain solutions
  • LO6. identify and evaluate emerging corporate and social responsibility initiatives and their impact on supply chain strategies.

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

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.

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