Course syllabus

Course-PM

TEK416 TEK416 Purchasing and supply management lp1 HT22 (7.5 hp)

The course is offered by the department of Technology Management and Economics

In the program: SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, MSC PROGR, Year 1, 7,5 Credits

Teaching language: English

Contact details

Examiner and coordinator:

Árni Halldórsson arni.halldorsson@chalmers.se

Ala Arvidsson ala.arvidsson@chalmers.se

Course purpose

Background and aim

An increasing portion of the total spending of manufacturing- and service-based organisations reside outside of 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 reasoning and organisation come three emerging issues: risk, environmental impact and social responsibility of 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 societal challenges, and contribute to their industrial leadership.

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 organization, 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. Analyze and critically assess the robustness of supply strategies
5. Relate supply strategy to externalities such as scarcity of natural resources, climate change, ethical and environmental issues, and costs

 Transferable skills

Through the teaching and learning activities, 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

3. Prepare and make effective business presentations, individually and in teams
4. Communicate in writing or orally (ideas, knowledge, arguments, or proposals) with brevity and clarity
5. 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.

Schedule

See course syllabus and TimeEdit

Course literature

Reading

Core textbook in purchasing and supply management complemented by journal articles available 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 and Rozemeijer, Frank (2022): Procurement and Supply Chain Management (PSCM), eight edition.

Examination and assessment

• Written work (group, individual) and presentations:
  • Seminar 1: Group work, hand-in, max 3 points
  • Seminar 2: Group work, hand-in, max 3 points
  • Seminar 3: Group work, hand-in, max 20 points
  • Individual learning log: hand-in at the end of the course, max 4 points
• Written, closed-book exam: max 70 points of the total course mark. The written exam must be passed to pass the course overall.

Grading: Not Passed, 3 (equal or more than 40%), 4 (equal or more than 60%), 5 (equal or more than 80%). Course examinations in total correspond to 100 points.