Course Details in 2024/25 Session

Module Title	LM Strategic Outsourcing, Procurement and Supplier Management
School	Birmingham Business School
Department	Management
Module Code	07 38009
Module Lead	Xishu Li
Level	Masters Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-20 hours Seminar-20 hours Guided independent study-160 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This module consists of two main parts. First, it examines the strategic and operational rationale for firms in deciding whether to make themselves or ‘outsource’ and buy from suppliers the goods or services they require within their supply and value chains. Second, it examines how the firm might effectively undertake the procurement and supplier management tasks necessary for both resilient supply and best value for money. Specifically, the module shows how firms can bring in strategic management concepts into make-buy decisions, technology into the procurement process and relationship skills into supplier management. It also heavily features internal stakeholder management, dispute resolution and negotiation, which need to be employed at all stages of the procurement process and are all core business skills for any manager. The module will also examine strategies and approaches that build partnerships as part of wider network-based collaboration. The ethical, responsible and connected sustainable implications of business decision-making and supply chain management will also be considered, as will the impacts of digital business and new technology solutions throughout the module.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Critically evaluate the logic behind the make-buy and outsourcing decisions of major firms in both manufacturing and service, and global contexts. Apply key concepts to the procurement and supplier management process, recognising the main challenges to effective management and being able to intuit potential solutions. Demonstrate an appreciation of how the procurement and supplier management actions of the buyer need to be based upon a view about the nature and motivation of supplier sales and marketing strategies and actions. Demonstrate a nuanced understanding of how recent advances in technology, and the impacts of digital business have transformed the nature of effective management of the procurement and supplier management process. Demonstrate an ability to develop and implement negotiation strategies and tactics across a range of buyer-supplier contexts, showing how these strategies need to be calibrated according to the prevailing conditions. Compare the differences between procurement and supplier management in different sectors, firm sizes, purchase spend categories and parts of the world. Craft a make-buy and procurement strategy for a firm.
Assessment	38009-01 : Individual case study : Coursework (50%) 38009-02 : Individual Assignment : Coursework (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: (1750 word equivalent) Individual case study which may include a short 5 minute video presentation e.g. evaluating make-buy and/or outsourcing decisions (50%). (1750 word) Individual business report e.g. assessing procurement and/or supplier management strategies (50%). Reassessment: Resubmission of failed component(s): (1500 word equivalent) Individual case study (50%). AND/OR (1750 word) Individual business report (50%).
Other
Reading List