Course syllabus

Background and aim

An increasing portion of the total spending of manfuacturing- and service-based organisations resides outside their boundaries, and hence their direct control. Their cost efficiency, ability to innovate, and value propositions to customers depend upon the way purchasing processes are organised, and on relationships with suppliers. As consequence, a key foundation of success is the way an organisation manages its relationship with external suppliers of goods and services. In addition to economic reasoningand organisationcome three emerging issues: risk, environmental impactand social responsibilityof the individual company as well as its wider supply network.

The aim of this course is to provide students with an appreciation and understanding of key principles and theories of purchasing and supply management, and the role of this in the particular organisation. This takes place in a wider context of global complex supply networks. Our vision is that the principles of purchasing and supply management may help organisations in addressing societial challences, and contribute to their industrialleadership.

Learning objectives

Knowledge, understanding and subject specific skills

Having successfully completed this course, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

1. Understand established principles, theories and practices of purchasing and supply management, critically evaluate these, and link to various aspects of performance (financial measures as well societal (e.g. ethical and environmental) aspects)
2. Understand the role of purchasing and supply management in the organisation, and also relative to other supply chain management processes
3. Understand and explain purchasing management processes, supply strategies and supplier relationships in various contexts
4. Analyse and criticall assess robustness of supply strategies
5. Relate supply strategy to externalities such as scarcity of natural resources, climate change, ethcial and environmental issues and costs

Transferable skills

Through the teaching and learning activites, students are furthermore expected to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to persuade, convince and argue effectively
2. Manage time and tasks effectively in the context of individual study and group work activities and take responsibility for carrying out agreed tasks

8. Prepare and make effective business presentations, individually and in teams
9. Communicate in writing or orally (ideas, knowledge, arguments or proposals) with brevity and clarity
10. Demonstrate motivation and initiative through establishing familiarity with the business community, in particular the types of industries, managers and decisions that relate to purchasing and supply management.

Reading

Core textbookin purchasing and supply management complemented by journal articlesavailable through on-line databases at Chalmers’ library. This core textbook, all articles referred to as ‘Reading’ above and lecture slides are subject to examination in the course.‘Suggested further reading’ is not part of the examination.

Core textbook:

Van Weele, Arjan (2018): Purchasing and Supply Chain Management (PSCM), seventh edition.