Timetables and Modules
Note: Modules offered each academic year are subject to change. Listed below are the modules and timetable for 2024/25.
Michaelmas Term |
Hilary Term |
Trinity Term |
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Michaelmas Term (September to December)
- Business Analytics
- Business Ethics
- Global Supply Chain Management
- Operations Analytics
- Operations Management
- Research Methods
Hilary Term (January to April)
- Financing & Procurement in Supply Chains
- New Product Development
- Project Management
- Supply Chain Science
Trinity Term (May to August)
- Dissertation or Company Research Project
This project allows students to showcase the knowledge they have gained and enhance their career potential by specialising in a particular area
Module Descriptions
Business Analytics (5 ECTS)
In today's data-driven business landscape, the ability to harness the power of data for informed decision-making is paramount. The "Business Analytics " module offers a comprehensive introduction to data analysis tools, techniques, processes, and knowledge necessary to turn data into actionable insights for business problems. Through a combination of theoretical concepts and hands-on practical exercises, participants will learn how to transform raw data into insights and useful information to support and facilitate data-driven decisions that drive business success. By the end of this course, participants will be able to use appropriate business analytics tools and techniques, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to data-driven decision-making processes within organizations.
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:
- Translate a business problem into data-driven analytics tasks through the concepts and technologies of data analytics.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the concepts and techniques of descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics.
- Conduct descriptive statistics to summarize and describe data.
- Build predictive models using predictive analytics tools and techniques for solving business problems.
- Apply prescriptive analytics techniques including multi-criteria decision-making methods to business problems.
Business Ethics (5 ECTS)
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to core theoretical concepts of business ethics as well as of corporate sustainability and responsibility (CSR). After discussing the relevance of business ethics for theory and practice this course proceeds by elaborating on key theoretical concepts of business ethics and CSR. This includes understanding the relation between business and ethics, defining relevant terms and constructs as well as distinguishing between multiple levels of analysis in an international context. Next, the course focuses on a critical discussion of several theoretical approaches to business ethics and CSR. Since business ethics ultimately aims at influencing business practice, the course then focuses on the practical implementation of business ethics in multinational corporations.
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:
- Understand the critical role and fundamental concepts of management (i.e., business ethics , corporate sustainability and responsibility, stakeholder management, multi-stakeholder governance, stakeholder value creation).
- Develop innovative approaches to new and existing business problems (i.e., solving ethical challenges through stakeholder-oriented, responsible management practices).
- Integrate functional areas of management when analyzing business problems (i.e., the interrelations between sourcing, accounting and CSR).
- Identify relevant business problems and opportunities (i.e., ethical, economic, social, environmental and political aspects of global business).
- Employ appropriate methodologies to solve decision problems (i.e., tools and frameworks for ethical decision-making and problem-solving).
- Demonstrate effective fundamental professional oral communications skills (i.e., group presentations and discussions in class)
- Demonstrate effective fundamental professional written communications skills (through several written short essays on selected topics).
- Take initiative to substantially contribute to the team effort (through group presentations on selected topics and class discussions).
- Work effectively in a diverse team environment to generate an appropriate solution for a real-world business problem (through group presentations as well as case studies in class).
Global Supply Chain Management (10 ECTS)
This module is offered to provide you with a basic understanding of supply chain management as a foundation for understanding more advanced supply chain management (SCM) concepts. The module will expose you to a range of basic supply chain related concepts as well as the global real life SCM examples. Various topics dealing with issues from inbound to outbound supply chains will be dealt at introductory level in order provide you with strong foundations to explore more advanced topics in SCM for the rest of the course.
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:
- Recognise, analyse and apply the key concepts, underpinning theories and frameworks in managing a supply chain from inbound, process, and outbound perspectives.
- Critically evaluate the impact of supply chain management on the competitiveness of a firm.
Operations Analytics (5 ECTS)
The demand for analysing such big datasets as part of oprational decision making is challenging but at the same time create huge opportunities for organizations. Data science is the computational process of discovering patterns in large data sets involving advanced analytical methodology for extraction of features from a large source of data related to the question in mind, processing data, analyzing and visualizing this data, so as to make meaning out of it for business strategies. Data science intersects with Artificial Intelligence (AI) that is based on the idea of the capability of a machine or computer program to think (reason), understand and learn like or better than humans. AI is reproducing and advancing human intelligence in machines, especially computer systems through learning, reasoning and self-correction. Machine learning (ML) is a subset of Artificial Intelligence, that provides a set of statistical tools to learn from data. The basic component of Machine Learning is to “teach” computers how to learn and make predictions from data without necessarily having the training (teacher) signal.
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:
- Understand the fundamentals of Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machines and Neural Networks algorithms.
- Be aware of the scope and limitations of the techniques taught in the course.
- Identify opportunities for using Machine Learning techniques in operations.
- Understand how to correctly interpret and evaluate and communicate the models and results.
- Use Excel & R effectively for Machine Learning techniques and decision making.
Operations Management (5 ECTS)
This module is concerned with the process of creating and delivering products and services and aims to introduce students to the core theories, concepts, models, tools and techniques associated with operations management. The prototype organisation transforms inputs (raw materials, money, information, human resource, knowledge) into outputs (finished goods, service, and waste) examples thus considered include manufacturing plants for producing physical products, universities providing education, hospitals which aim to transform sick patients into healthy patients.
The module will consider: the key issues involved in managing the operations function; pertinent theory; approaches for managing the improvement of the operations function; and demonstrate operations management's strategic importance to organisations. The module explains the experience and insights of contemporary operations management in both manufacturing and service contexts, and within the context of end-to-end supply chains.
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:
- Identify and contextualise the important aspects and challenges of operations management.
- Critically appraise and apply key concepts and tools to deal with these issues.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply and communicate key operations management concepts.
- Explain and apply the approaches to improving operations processes.
- Demonstrate the ability to present and support an operations strategy, based on appropriate analysis.
Research Methods (5 ECTS)
This module is designed to facilitate master’s students to develop the skills and knowledge needed for conceiving, planning, and implementing empirical social science research projects. It is designed to help students to conduct responsible research in the fields of Entrepreneurship, HRM, Operations and Supply Chain Management, and Responsible Business and Sustainability.
The module covers a broad range of topics including the philosophical foundations of research, key elements of social science research, different types of research contributions, the role of theory, how to review and use extant literature, different methodological approaches, considerations for planning data collection and analysis, as well as pragmatic considerations such finding appropriate samples.
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:
- Acquire the knowledge and appreciation for the principles and practices of responsible research in social sciences.
- Be able to debate and evaluate major theories relating to research design and methods for collecting and analysing data.
- Recognise the contribution research makes to social sciences theory and practice.
- Identify a research question and justify the research design required to address it.
- Recognise appropriate data collection techniques and data analysis methods.
- Increase confidence and ability to conduct a research project in social sciences.
Financing & Procurement in Supply Chains (10 ECTS)
Supply Chain Finance is a developing speciality within supply chain management. The techniques used in Supply Chain Finance are unique and distinct from general SCM and from Finance. Banks have now expressed keen interest in supply chain finance and this module will give specific coverage to these unique topics. The aims for this module are for you to understand what role finance plays in supply chain management and how, including the specific techniques that are used by industry and banks. The second half of the module will link the understandings around supply chain finance to procurement decisions and strategies that companies employ. We focus on the management of procurement of goods and services from a strategic perspective. Topics include procurement as a strategic function; key procurement issues such the challenges of global procurement, sourcing management, supplier selection and relationship management strategies.
The teaching approach is interactive, using a mix of case studies, simulations and multimedia materials throughout the module. The cases will be used as the driver for interactive classroom discussions and there is an expectation of strong class participation from all students.
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:
- Understand the role of finance in Supply Chain Management and the connection to procurement decision making.
- Be aware of the different types of structure that can be used to finance trade over short, medium or long-term periods.
- Understand the set of solutions available for financing specific goods and/or products as they move from origin to destination along the supply chain.
- Consider appropriate supply chain finance tools that can leverage supply chain performance.
- Articulate the role and importance of procurement in strategic supply chain management and the link to supply chain finance
- Analyse the core elements of the organisational procurement process and sourcing practices
- Identify and evaluate options related to supplier management (including supplier selection, evaluation and performance measurement)
- Discuss different tools and frameworks in procurement and how they might be used in practice
New Product Development (5 ECTS)
Suppliers play a central role in enabling firms to develop and launch new products. As part of a supply network, they can be sources of knowledge as well as materials. Integration of supplier capabilities into the product development process benefits from a shared understanding by both developer and supplier of their inter-dependencies and how best to manage their relationship. This module is designed for students who wish to develop their understanding of the complex management issues associated with the development of new products. It explores the development imperative, the strategic choices, the underlying process and the challenges of organising for commercial, humanitarian and environmental outputs.
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:
- The imperative for and scope of new product development.
- Thinking strategically about new product development.
- Managing product development as a process.
- Evaluating and improving the new product development process.
Project Management (5 ECTS)
In today’s rapidly changing technology and market environment, project-based management and organisations provide highly flexible, efficient and responsive means of developing new products and services, shortening times to market, building major infrastructure systems and coping with the ever-increasing flow of new and more complex business opportunities including not only economic, but also social and sustainable, value creation. Organisations must have (project) managers that are able to manage change through projects. The result of these changes has been a growth in the number and type of projects that have to be managed successfully. It is vital, therefore, that managers understand the tools, approaches and strategies for managing projects and project-based organisations. However, the fact that most projects continue to fail in achieving their original objectives suggests that traditional project management does not meet our current needs. This module introduces students to new approaches and concepts of project management to help manage projects and to achieve successful outcomes.
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:
- Select the right project management approach for different projects;
- Plan for project success (the triple constraints of time, cost and quality as well as other factors such as social value creation, sustainability and ethical dimensions);
- Reflect on key activities across the project lifecycle;
- Select the appropriate stakeholder management approach for a range of stakeholders (including non-commercial stakeholders and citizens);
- Understand the importance and impact of project/organisational structures as well as learning in a project environment;
- Use and apply basic tools of project management at operational, strategic and systems levels in contexts likely to be encountered in practice;
- Demonstrate the economic importance of project management and the extensive scope of the subject area.
Supply Chain Science (5 ECTS)
Supply chain management focuses on the flow of products, services, finances and information from raw materials to consumers. Based on the previous modules, this module is about gaining a deeper understanding of how to manage supply chains and logistics systems with a strong focus on analytics skills. On the module, we will explore the nature of supply chains and essential models in supply chain management. These include sourcing decisions, logistics management, supply chain contract management, as well as other emerging topics in supply chain management. On completion of the module, you will have gained a deeper understanding of the many decisions that face supply chain managers in an increasingly complex and dynamic global environment, as well as the theories, models and analytical tools that can be used to inform these decisions.
Dissertation or Company Project (30 ECTS)
The dissertation is an in-depth individual research study of a particular issue within the field of operations and supply chain management. The dissertation module requires that students demonstrate their capabilities to engage with academic literatures, and both an understanding of and an ability to apply operations and supply chain management related theory and concepts to solve related issues. Students are expected to demonstrate a good understanding of the applicability of techniques (statistical, numerical, qualitative), and an ability to communicate their work to a broad audience effectively and efficiently. Students are encouraged to select a company/industry sector or an academic topic that is relevant to the next stage of their career.
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:
- Identify and justify an issue related to operations and supply chain management that is of strategic relevance to the theory and practice.
- Critically analyse and discuss existing literature and practice relevant to the chosen issue. Compare and contrast the relative merits of different research methods and their relevance to different situations.
- Undertake a systematic analysis of quantitative and/or qualitative data and present the results in a clear and consistent format.
- Draw realistic and appropriate conclusions and make recommendations.
- Present arguments in a coherent manner written in a clear style and a coherent conclusion that follows correctly from the analysis.