Business with Logistics and Supply Chain Management MSc
2 Years Full-Time (With Study Abroad in Second Year) | September Start

In this module you will learn about a comprehensive range of research methods and business analytics techniques. This will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills necessary for you to conduct research at Masters’ level and prepare you to complete a Master’s Dissertation, Consultancy Project or Management Enquiry. By the end of the module you will know how to apply both quantitative and qualitative data collection and business analysis techniques. In quantitative techniques you will learn about sampling, questionnaire design, statistical inference, and hypothesis testing while qualitative techniques covered will include methods such as interviewing and focus groups. Analysis methods such as content analysis and thematic analysis will also be covered. In addition, you will gain some understanding of research philosophy (positivism and interpretivism) and research ethics and you will be able to write a research proposal to bring these ideas together.
Furthermore, this module will provide clear, critical, and analysis of data, you will also be able to consider the use of analytics implementation skills, where you will be introduced to analytics software such as SPSS. SPSS statistics analysis is one of the powerful solutions that is designed to help businesses and researchers to solve problems by various methods (geospatial analysis, predictive analytics and hypothesis testing).

Studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This

module is designed to support your transition to postgraduate level study in the use and practice of subject specific skills around assessments

and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to further develop your abilities to read and study effectively

for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your

use and application of language and communications skills suitable for a postgraduate level of study.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding postgraduate assignment briefs.

• Developing advanced academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.

• Practising advanced ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’

• Planning and structuring postgraduate level academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).

• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.

• Speaking in postgraduate seminar presentations.

• Presenting your ideas

• Giving discipline-related postgraduate level academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.

• Postgraduate level speed reading techniques.

• Developing self-reflection skills.

This module engages you in personal and professional development in order that you develop and hone your teamworking, management and leadership skills, capabilities and attributes, and in so doing, enhance your employability. On this module, you will not only prepare for your first job after you graduate but also kickstart your commitment to life-long personal and professional learning. In the first part of the module you will be supported in a self-analysis by a range of activities, including the completion of self-administered tool-kits to demonstrate an increased self-awareness and self-understanding. This will also involve applying theoretical frameworks and researching contemporary literature for a more in-depth understanding of self. A key outcome of this process is how you will be able to exploit this development in order to lead, and manage, more effectively in your future careers. The second part of the module contains activities which enable you to build on your self-analysis and explore further your strengths, weaknesses and areas for development in the context of your career development plans. You will receive guidance on how to craft professional, postgraduate CVs, LinkeIn profiles, and supporting documentation to meet the needs of employer. Furthermore, you will use your understanding of self to help you to understand the key issues and specific challenges that you face, with your skills profile, in relation to your employability prospects in your target profession/industry/sector. This will also include the development of knowledge into the global graduate market, (including routes such as self-employment and developing your career with an existing employer) drawing upon local, national and international examples.

This module aims to provide you with an appreciation of the synergy between strategic procurement and logistics management. The focus is given to processes that add value through the production and delivery of services and products in the supply chain, and the tools needed to manage these processes effectively. Furthermore, you will be given a comprehensive understanding of modern approaches to strategic procurement and logistics management throughout the supply chain. On completion of the module you will be able to critically analyse the approaches to managing procurement and logistics management used by a variety of product and service organizations operating in a global business environment.

The content of the module comprises a number of key parts which are listed below.
Introduction to purchasing and SCM
The purchasing process
Supplier quality management
Supplier evaluation and selection
Negotiation and Contract management / incoterms
Supplier management and development - creating a world-class supply base
Worldwide sourcing
Introduction to ERP systems
Information technology benefits evaluation
Knowledge management in supply chains
Innovation management in supply chains
Outsourcing/ re-shoring management
Power in supply chains
Change management in supply chains


Scope of Materials Management and Logistics
The effects of ROI and Profits
Customer Service
Purchasing - the 5 'rights'-Partnership Sourcing (I)
Purchasing - the 5 'rights'-Partnership Sourcing (II)
Inventory Management Strategy
Inventory Management MRP
Inventory Management ERP
Channel and Network Strategy
Materials Handling and Storage (I)
Materials Handling and Storage (II)
Information Technology in Logistics

The module will present you with the fundamental principles of contemporary Supply Chain Risk Management and Sustainable Supply Chain Management within a business context. This research informed module explores the ways in which good practice in these fields underpinned with theoretical relevance can contribute to optimisation of operational efficiency, organisational excellence, minimising organisational and environmental risk, achieving sustainable competitive advantage for the fruition of broader ‘triple bottom line’ (TBL) benefits.

You will develop the ability to apply strategic thinking to contemporary issues of risk impacting on the 21st Century Supply Chain and its associated Networks. You will be equipped with a thorough understanding of the tools and techniques necessary to analyse, evaluate and implement best practice to Supply Chain Risk Management and Sustainable Supply Chain Management.

The syllabus consists of:

Supply Chain Risk Management
• Risk definition in the context of Supply Chain Management.
• Risk identification and assessment - techniques and tools.
• Risk considerations at outset before choice of contractual approach or in progress adjustments to forms of contract.
• Development and justification of risk-driven management decisions.
• Supply chain vulnerability and risk response strategies.
• Risk management philosophies, processes and procedures.
• Risk analysis techniques.
• Risk transference strategies including insurance.
• Industry based real-world case studies and scenarios illustrating macro and micro-level risks, and approaches to supply chain risk management.

Sustainable Supply Chain Management
• Sustainability concepts and frameworks
• Sustainable Supply Chain Management philosophies, processes and procedures
• Environmental legislation
• Sustainable design of products
• Strategic role of sustainability in green supply chain management
• Closed-loop supply chains
• Facilities and location planning decisions
• Transportation decisions
• Supplier management

This is a 40-credit core module running in the first semester of the MSc Business with programme and is developed for those of you who have little or no prior business and management subject experience. The aim of the module is to introduce you to the main business functions – Finance, Marketing, HRM, Operations – and show how each can contribute to the competitive advantage of a firm and hence enable the firm to achieve its strategic objectives. The content of the module comprises six key parts which are listed below.

Business Simulation
Introduction to the module; The Business Simulation – introduction, decision-making, group work and allocation of roles, group presentation – annual report to shareholders; Round-up to the Business Simulation and summative assessment guidance.

Strategy
Developing a Business Plan; The Business Environment; The Competitive Environment; Organisational Objectives; Competitive Strategy; Functional Strategy; Strategic Capabilities; Responsible Decision-making; Evaluating Company Performance.

Financial Management
Cost behaviour and product costing; Cost classification and product costing; Pricing decisions and costing; Behavioural Aspects of Budgeting; Cash Budgeting; Integrated Performance Measures; Balanced Scorecard.

Operations Management
Role of Operations Management; Operations Strategy; Resource planning and capacity management; Quality Management; Global supply networks; JIT and Lean Management; Supplier selection and procurement; Benchmarking and Inventory Management.

Human Resources Management
Understanding HR and its contribution to Business Strategy; Human Resource Planning and Measures; Recruitment, Selection and Retention; Compensation and Benefits; Training and Development; Productivity and Performance Management; Employee Relations; Motivation and Employee Engagement.

Marketing Management
The Role of Marketing; Market Segmentation & Positioning; Buyer Behaviour/Consumer Behaviour; Pricing Strategy; Collecting Information and Forecasting Demand;
New Product Development; Channel Management and International Marketing; Integrated Marketing Communications.