This module outlines the major sustainability trends, supply chain risk and challenges, and unforeseen supply chain issues and explores the means and opportunities to respond positively to them. This module consists of two main parts: sustainability on the one hand and resilience and risk management on the other. First, it equips students with an understanding of the major theoretical treatments of sustainability as it applies to business and the recent debates within the topic. It also enhances students’ understanding of industrial sustainability in different empirical contexts, such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, smart energy grids, biofuels, bioplastics, recycling and remanufacturing. It further provides students with a critical awareness of the methodologies used to determine sustainability performance. Second, it enables students to recognise potential risks of experiencing a supply chain disruption and prepare for, react to, and recover from the unforeseen supply chain issues through developing resilience capabilities. The module also explores the dimensions, approaches, decision-making and causalities of resilience. Where appropriate, guest speakers and practical exercises will be included in seminar activities to support the development of practical skills relevant to employability.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Critically discuss key aspects of sustainability, including identifying and balancing social, environmental and economic considerations
Critically evaluate the main characteristics of environmentally sustainable and socially responsible organisations and the role of business within the wider context of sustainable development
Appraise how supply chain practices can contribute to sustainable and ethical practices by applying practical tools and techniques to evaluate and promote the sustainability performance
Evaluate the relationship and causalities between supply chain risk management, supply chain vulnerability and supply chain resilience
Explain the key steps involved in developing and implementing resilient supply chain designs
Evaluate the management challenges of formulating and implementing resilience into supply chains
Critically reflect on own development and how supply chain professionals can contribute to sustainable and ethical business.
Communicate effectively in writing and verbally (Communication Skills).
5 minutes Group Presentation (20%) exploring the interlinkages between SCM sustainability, risk and resilience. 2000-word Individual Portfolio (60%) Critical reflection (20%) 750 words
Reassessment:
Reassessment by failed component. Group Presentation to be reassessed by a 750-word critical analysis of the group presentation delivered (20%) Individual portfolio (60%) 2000 words Critical reflection (20%) 750 words
