Course syllabus
Course-PM
TEK717 Economy of transport and distribution lp1 HT23 (7.5 hp)
Course is offered by the Department of Technology Management and Economics
v2.0 2023.08.21 See bottom for revision history
ALL the online study occasions are located under the same Zoom Link (unless a special link provided in the calendar event).
Recurring Zoom link for ALL study occasions: https://chalmers.zoom.us/j/61370331674
Passcode: 230316
Contact details
Examiner:
Ceren Altuntas Vural (Links to an external site.), Division of Service Management and Logistics
ceren.altuntasvural@chalmers.se
031-772 6903
Teacher:
Ivan Dario Cardenas Barbosa, Division of Service Management and Logistics
ivandar@chalmers.se
Course assistant/supervisor:
Alena Khaslavskaya, Division of Service Management and Logistics
alena.khaslavskaya@chalmers.se
031-772 6714
Guest lecturers:
Per Olof Arnäs, Einride & Steerlink Partners
per-olof.arnas@steerlinkpartners.se
Sinem Tokcaer, Izmir University of Economics
Violeta Roso, Chalmers University of Technology
Student representatives:
dittmermalvina@gmail.com Malvina Dittmer
danielhanngren@gmail.com Daniel Hanngren
olivia.lindkvist@gmail.com Olivia Lindkvist
sonneveldgijs@gmail.com Gijs Sonneveld
corneliawall00@gmail.com Cornelia Wall
Course purpose
The purpose of the course is to acquire a deeper understanding for the interplay between demand and supply for transport within the macro and micro economic environment. To achieve this purpose, the course focuses on various components that affect the costs for distribution and logistics and the relationships between these costs and the price of logistics services. In addition, the course studies the significant issues that affect the economics of logistics systems such as environment, technological change and trends in shipper preferences.
Content
- Activities and costs of transportation
- The actors of the transportation and distribution channels, process control and new trends in transportation
- Distribution structures and their individual characteristics
- The construction of distribution structures in a network, integration and complexity
- Resource utilization and pricing in transportation
Learning objectives and syllabus
Learning objectives:
- Explain and analyse the cost structures within the different transport modes during logistics operations
- Describe the main physical, financial and information properties in distribution systems.
- Evaluate the effects of new logistics concepts with regard to the efficiency of a distribution system.
- Explain the relationship between cost and price in transportation and logistics.
- Divide transport costs into fixed and variable costs.
- Understand resource utilisation from a financial perspective.
Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen
Organisation
- Lectures and seminars (in-class and pre-recorded)
- Assignments
- Cases
- Guest lectures
Examination including compulsory elements
4 Inspera-based assessment sessions where students are required to complete a real-time quiz on the related week’s topics. Mandatory attendance to guest lectures, seminars and other mandatory tasks (marked with * in the Schedule in Canvas). Project work in groups.
Each assessment gives a maximum of 12.5 points and the group work gives a maximum of 50 points.
The threshold for passing theory part (assessments) and the case part (Apelsin-group work) is 40 %. Each examining part (theory and case parts I and II) must be passed and all other mandatory parts fulfilled for completion of the course.
Grading thresholds for final grade (based on the total points):
40p = 3
60p = 4
80p = 5
Schedule
See Calendar here in Canvas for details. Canvas calendar will be the basis for the schedule. Check Canvas for the timing of different teaching and learning activities or Zoom links (if applicable).
Recurring Zoom link: https://chalmers.zoom.us/j/61370331674
Password: 230316
Course literature
Novack, R.A., Gibson, B.J., Suzuki, Y. & Coyle, J.J. (2019) Transportation A Global Supply Chain Perspective, 9th Edition, Cengage, Boston, MA. ISBN10: 0-357-16161-0 ISBN13: 978-0-357-16161-6
The book can be ordered both in an e-book or printed format from www.cengagebrain.co.uk (Links to an external site.)
There is a special discount code for Chalmers students: SSWBACKTOUNIVERSITY23
If you’d like to get the printed form, please check Chalmers bookstore. If you order online, it might take appr. 10 working days for the book to arrive.
Scientific papers (for the literature seminar)
Lecture material (can be downloaded via Files/Lecture material)
Case material (can be downloaded via Files/Apelsin case, some material may not be available from the start).
Course design
The course is divided into two main parts, the percentages indicate work load:
- Theory - 50%
- Lectures, assessments and calculation sessions related to the course book (Transportation) plus guest lectures – 40 %
- Scientific papers on distribution economics and related topics. Seminars plus preparation of material – 10 %
- Case project, group work – 50 %
Lectures, assessments and calculation sessions
The course contains one introductory lecture (L0), 8 lectures on theory (L1-8, related to the course book), three guest lectures (G1-3) and four assessment sessions (A1-A4).
Lectures will be run on Campus (unless specified else). Zoom link (if applicable) appears in Canvas calendar events and at the top of the course homepage. It is important that you follow the course book as the lectures will be organized interactively where discussions on selected small cases from the book or other previously assigned readings will be run in class.
Two of the guest lectures are applied lectures where you’ll first learn how to solve certain problems and then you’ll solve related problems yourselves in the following session. It is important to work on these and come to the workshops with your questions for succeeding in their assessments.
For details regarding individual sessions, see schedule in Canvas Calendar.
The assessment sessions will replace the end-of-term examinations of the previous years. Each assessment will cover the topics that are discussed during the previous week. An assessment can be an Inspera-based time-limited online quiz, a discussion session where groups hand-in material, or a hand-in of an individual assignment. You’ll be informed about each assessment during the related week.
We might also use Canvas to add self-study assistance regarding some common calculation methods used in the course. To assist there will be an open calculation session (Ca) where a teacher will be available to answer questions. The questions and supporting visual material will be provided on Canvas and you’ll be informed when they are online.
Scientific papers
Apart from the course book, a number of scientific papers are included, see list here. These papers all relate to the course subject areas. The aim of the literature seminar is for all participants to gain knowledge of the ideas and results presented in the papers.
Each case group will choose one paper to present during the literature seminar. It is not possible for the same paper to be chosen by more than one case group belonging to the same seminar group. The list of papers will be the same for both seminar groups. Students are expected to show slides and/or summary material at their presentations. We will do these seminars on campus and in the following manner:
- The whole class will be divided into literature seminar groups, to assure that there is enough time to present papers and to have a follow-up discussion. Keep in mind that the discussion will be based on your own questions.
- Every case group will present the paper several times during the seminar. Every two case groups of the same seminar group will meet to present their paper, and then rotate so that every group will present to every other group, and in so way listen to all other presentations.
- Each group shall therefore prepare a short presentation and a short summary of the paper. Every member of the group will present the whole paper at least once. The teachers will steer the seminar and make sure that everyone in the room will present the whole paper.
- At the end, we will have a joint session where all groups will be present and all papers will be summarized on the board with the input from all students.
Some tips on what to include in a presentation and what to discuss during the follow-up discussion
- What is the paper´s basic premise? What do the authors want to tell us?
- Identify 3 central takeaways/insights from reading the paper
- What questions would you like to ask the authors? Why?
- Is the content of the paper in any way related to your case project? How?
After the literature seminar, each group writes study material (a summary) for their own paper (1-2 pages). All these summaries are collected into one document and published on Canvas. This document is then part of the course material for Assessment 4. You may submit your summaries here.
Case project
The case ("Apelsin") is a role play where the client is a CEO of a manufacturing company and the case groups are consultants hired to help the company. Initially, the problems are related to the distribution of products to the customers, but as the case progresses, the focus may change.
The case has often been perceived as confusing by the students who have taken the course earlier. This is a lot due to the fact, that this is an open-ended case. There are no simple or single solutions, it largely depends on your individual assumptions and the strategy you apply to solve the case. The case is designed to be realistic, and among other, it implies a lack of data, necessity to make assumptions, responsibility for the choices you make along the process of solving the case, and responsibility for the results. Thus, it is important to be very clear in your writing and to make sure that all the assumptions and approximations are presented along with the case solution.
The case consists of two parts (1 and 2) and is centered around some videos that are released by the company CEO and two case seminars. At the start of the project, all groups get the same data (more data may be provided later):
- A description of the company and its (public) history
- Data files containing freight transactions
- Excerpt from the annual report
- Task description, as stated by the company
- A report by the logistics manager of the company that suggests some changes
Special access to the environmental calculation tool NTM Calc can be found here
There will be two supervision sessions which need to be booked by the groups using Canvas (one meeting per case part). Each group gets 2x15 minutes to ask questions based on the documents and digital material they receive to solve the case. Every group needs to submit their questions as a Canvas assignment the day before the supervision meetings.
Reporting guidelines
Each of the two parts of the case project is to be reported in writing as well as in seminar format. The following submissions are expected for the two parts:
The case seminars are organised differently. As shown in the table below, five seminar groups will be formed. Each of the seminar groups will have members from all of the case groups. The seminars will last 45 minutes.
Every group is expected to submit their case project report on 21 September, 23.59 (part 1) and on 15 October, 23.59 (Part 2). Formatting details for the report are given below. In addition to the case project report, every student, individually, must submit one question for the case seminar. This question needs to be about the course topics analysed in the case and can't be the same or very similar to other questions that are asked by other students! You will be able to see others' questions in your seminar groups so please read them carefully and avoid repeating questions within your groups. If the questions repeat, you will be asked to resubmit the question. Questions are entered here (Seminar 1 and Seminar 2). Questions for case seminar 1 are due on 21 September, 12:00. Questions for case seminar 2 are due on 13 October, 12:00 (noon).
Every student will be graded both as a group member but also individually based on their contribution to the case project. The report is graded out of 20 points. Each student's performance in the discussion sessions during case seminars will be evaluated out of 4 points. Finally, every student is expected to submit a reflection paper about the case project. The reflection paper is a maximum of 1 page and can be found here and here. A reflection paper is 1 point so in total a student can get a maximum of 25 points from each case project part. Deadline for submitting the reflection paper for case project 1 is 25 September, 23:59. Deadline for submitting the reflection paper for case project 2 is 20 October, 23:59. If you do not submit the reflection paper on time, you will not get 1 point.
The project reports:
Each report has a maximum limit of 6 pages, excluding the title page, table of contents, reference page and appendices). Use the space wisely. Keep in mind, that this is a role-play case and you are in the role of a consultancy firm. Think about what is relevant to include directly in your report, and what is better to attach as Appendices.
- Times New Roman 11pt for normal text
- Single line spacing
- 14 pt for level 1 headings
- 12 pt for level 2 headings
- Use outline numbering of headings
- Use page numbers
The report is submitted in Canvas as a PDF. All submissions will be checked by Urkund (anti-plagiarism). Do not copy text from other sources unless you are directly quoting.
All deadlines for the case project:
- Part 1 seminar questions: 21 September 2022, 12:00
- Part 1 report: 21 September 2022, 23:59
- Part 1 reflection paper: 25 September 2022, 23:59
- Part 2 seminar questions: 13 October 2022, 12:00
- Part 2 report: 15 October 2022, 23:59
- Part 2 reflection paper: 20 October 2022, 23:59
Groups
Case groups will consist of 5 members each unless special permission is given by the examiner. Students can choose groups themselves in Canvas, the groups need to be formed before, at or immediately after the introductory lecture (the same day the course starts). These groups will do the case project and the literature seminar together.
There will also be 5 seminar groups, created by the examiner. These groups consist of one member from each case group. The system is explained in the table below:
|
Case group 1 |
Case group 2 |
Case group 3 |
... |
Case group 10 |
|
|
Seminar group I |
Tony Stark |
Udo Dirkschneider |
Uma Thurman |
... |
Marie Curie |
|
Seminar group II |
Clark Kent |
Anne Wilson |
Bruce Willis |
... |
Albert Einstein |
|
Seminar group III |
Lois Lane |
Joan Jett |
Steve Buschemi |
... |
Stephen Hawking |
|
Seminar group IV |
Natalia Romanoff |
Rob Halford |
Lucy Liu |
... |
Donna Strickland |
|
Seminar group V |
Kara Danvers |
Bruce Dickinson |
Quentin Tarantino |
... |
Alexander Fleming |
Tony, Clark, Lois, Natalia and Kara in Case group 1 will do the case work and literature seminar together. But in the case seminars, they will all belong to different groups. Tony will join Udo, Uma and Marie. Clark will join Anne, Bruce and Albert etc. This means that each seminar group will have one representative from each of the case groups, thereby making sure that all are given the chance to represent their own case group.
Examination
4 Inspera-based assessment sessions where students are required to complete a real-time, in-class Inspera-based quiz on the related week’s topics. These can only be taken in the classroom and are mandatory to attend. Not attending one assessment session will result in failing the course. In case of an illness or another force majeur condition, the make-up for an assessment will be in the form of an oral exam where two examiners will be present in the classroom and evaluate the student together.
Mandatory attendance to guest lectures, seminars and other mandatory tasks is required. You can follow all the mandatory sessions on the Canvas schedule. Any session with a (*) mark is mandatory.
Project work will be completed in groups. Project is graded in two parts, maximum 25 points each where max. 20 points are given to the written report, max. 4 are given to the contribution during case seminars and 1 point is given for the individual reflection paper.
The assessments each give a maximum of 12.5 points (total 50p) and the group work gives a maximum of 50 points.
The threshold for passing each part (assessments in total, Case part 1 and part 2) is 40 %. Minimum of 20 points from the theory part and a minimum of 10 from each part of the case are required to pass the course. Each examining part must be passed and all other mandatory parts fulfilled for completion of the course.
If the students achieve equal to or above 40% of each examination part, then they will complete the course before exam week.
Grading thresholds for final grade (based on the total points):
40p = 3
60p = 4
80p = 5
Changes made since the last occasion
This course was revised significantly in 2019 when it started to be run in English the first time. In 2020, new big changes came with distant learning. Other big changes include:
- The new course book: Novak et al (2023) Transportation A Global Supply Chain Perspective 10th Edition.
- Two computer-based exams are replaced with 4 assessment sessions in various formats which would help with simultaneous learning.
- Applied sessions with new guest lecturers
- Interactive discussion sessions in every lecture where students are expected to actively participate peer discussions.
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Revision history
v01-14/08/2023 by Ceren Altuntas Vural
v02-21/08/2023 by Ceren Altuntas Vural
Course summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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