BMGT44280 Principles of Responsible Supply Chain Management

Academic Year 2023/2024

We consume products at an alarming rate, one person in Ireland, on average produces 372kg of waste a year which is 7 times the average body weight; this is up from 320 kg/person in 2019 and 314 kg/person in 2018 (EPA. 2022). In Bangladesh, the average waste per capita is 170 kilograms (kg) per capita per year (Islam, 2021). Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries facing the impact of climate change while Ireland is considered one of the best countries to live in (Gill, 2021). Supply Chain Management 101 teaches us that we produce to meet demand based on the principles of neo-classical economics and we have become very good at it: “efficiency and effectiveness” is our motto. But based on the economic principles of profit and growth (to name but a few), how we produce and consume goods and services is unsustainable.
Every product that you use has gone through a range of processes including gathering the materials, making it, packaging it and delivering it to reach us as consumers. These processes together form the supply chain behind the product and supply chains have to meet the needs and demands of customers. Hence, supply chains have focused on making products quickly at as low cost as possible whilst meeting the quality the customer is looking for. However, what is the impact of these supply chain processes on our environment and society? Creating sustainable supply chains poses a considerable challenge due to the inherent complexity with many processes and the involvement many partners.
This module develops our understanding of supply chain sustainability in 3 stages:
1. MACROLEVEL – considers the interaction between sustainability and society at its broadest level, such as interactions and comparisons across nations.
2. MESOLEVEL – the module evolves into a critique of the role of business in society and how sustainability is being integrated into the business.
3. MICROLEVEL – we review and analyse supply chain sustainability theory, tools and techniques in managerial decision-making based on the underlying assumptions that frames these.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completing this module, students will be expected to:
1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the sustainability issues in global supply chains.
2. Critically appraise the current theory on ethics, responsibility and sustainability that underpins sustainable supply chain management.
3. Develop technical expertise in supply chain sustainability concepts.
4. Professionally present findings on supply chain sustainability topics both written and oral.
5. Engage in learning using different learning strategies including discussions, debates, group work, presentations and reports.

Indicative Module Content:

MACRO-LEVEL
> Sustainable development
> Sustainability megatrends
> Sustainability theories
> Ethics
> International responses
MESO-LEVEL
> Economic theories
> Business ethics
> Organisation and management theories
> Business sustainability theories
> Sustainable and responsible business models
MICRO-LEVEL
> Sustainable supply chain definitions and theories
> Frameworks for sustainability
> Supply chain sustainability assessment and reporting
> Sustainable supply chain management models, processes and practices
> Structural sustainable supply chain management
> Relational sustainable supply chain management
> Inspiring sustainable supply chain initiatives

Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

33

Specified Learning Activities

203

Total

236

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: Participation in class, a group project and individual report Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded Yes

100


Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat (CFP) Within Three Semesters
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Oliver Laasch (2021) 'Principles of Management: Practicing Ethics, Responsibility, Sustainability'. Sage Publications, London.
Andrew Crane, Dirk Matten, Sarah Glozer, and Laura Spence (2019) 'Business Ethics - Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization'. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Spring
     
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 09:00 - 11:50

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