238SAM Contemporary Supply Chain Management

Assessment Information

This assignment is designed to assess learning outcomes:

1.Apply modern supply chain management principles and practice, including the evolution of modern operations management theory, to real business cases.

2.Critically analyse the process of supply chain management decision making.

3.Apply and analyse appropriate management frameworks which can be used for the planning and control of materials and services, from the viewpoints of quality, quantity and cost analysis.

4.Appreciate and utilise the range of tools and techniques available to aid effective supply chain management decision-making.

Element Description Word Count

1 – SCM

Analyse the current supply chain for palm oil. Discuss any issues and areas for potential improvement within the supply chain. Ensure that reference is made to the entire supply chain along with relevant theoretical concepts. Concise Essay 750

2 – Logistics

Discuss how outsourced logistics may improve the environmental credentials of a business. Concise Essay 750

3 – Lean Management

Select a restaurant of your choice and discuss the improvements that could be made by applying lean principles. Ensure you use appropriate theory and models to support your argument.  Concise Essay 750

Criteria for Assessment

Element 1 – Outline Mark Scheme

Demonstrate how the product fits with a theoretical model of a supply chain. 20%

Identification and discussion of key issues within the supply chain. 30%

Critical discussion on potential areas for development and improvement along the supply chain. 40%

Element 2 – Outline Mark Scheme

Demonstrate an appreciation for the importance of sustainable or environmentally friendly logistics activity.   20%

Critical discussion of how outsourced logistics may improve the environmental credentials of a business. 50%

Analysis of benefits and challenges associated with outsourcing logistics activity. 20%

Element 3 – Outline Mark Scheme

Identification of issues that currently need to be addressed. 25%

Analysis of how lean could specifically address these issues. 35%

Critical discussion of the potential challenges with lean implementation. 30%

The overall word count is 2250, word counts for individual elements of the portfolio should be adhered to.

There will be a penalty of a deduction of 10% of the mark (after internal moderation) for work exceeding the word limit by 10% or more.

The word limit includes quotations and citations, but excludes the references list.

How to submit your assessment

The assessment (elements 1, 2, 3) must be submitted by 18:00 on 22/02/2021. No paper copies are required. You can access the submission link through the module web.

·Your coursework will be given a zero mark if you do not submit a copy through Turnitin. Please take care to ensure that you have fully submitted your work.

·Please ensure that you have submitted your work using the correct file format, unreadable files will receive a mark of zero. The Faculty accepts Microsoft Office and PDF documents, unless otherwise advised by the module leader.

·All work submitted after the submission deadline without a valid and approved reason (see below) will be given a mark of zero.

·The University wants you to do your best. However we know that sometimes events happen which mean that you can’t submit your coursework by the deadline – these events should be beyond your control and not easy to predict.  If this happens, you can apply for an extension to your deadline for up to two weeks, or if you need longer, you can apply for a deferral, which takes you to the next assessment period (for example, to the resit period following the main Assessment Boards). You must apply before the deadline.

·Students MUST keep a copy and/or an electronic file of their assignment.

·Checks will be made on your work using anti-plagiarism software and approved plagiarism checking websites.

Plagiarism

As part of your study you will be involved in carrying out research and using this when writing up your coursework. It is important that you correctly acknowledge someone else’s writing, thoughts or ideas and that you do not attempt to pass this off as your own work.  Doing so is known as plagiarism.  It is not acceptable to copy from another source without acknowledging that it is someone else’s writing or thinking. This includes using paraphrasing as well as direct quotations. You are expected to correctly cite and reference the works of others. The Centre for Academic Writing provides documents to help you get this right. If you are unsure, please visit You can also check your understanding of academic conduct by completing the Good Academic Practice quiz available on Moodle.

Self-plagiarism or reuse of work previously submitted – You must not submit work for assessment that you have already submitted (partially or in full), either for your current course or for another qualification of this and any other university, unless this is specifically provided for in your assignment brief or specific course or module information. Where earlier work by you is citable, ie. it has already been published/submitted, you must reference it clearly. Identical pieces of work submitted concurrently will also be considered to be self-plagiarism. Self-plagiarism is unacceptable because you cannot gain credit for the same work twice.

Moodle includes a plagiarism detection system and assessors are experienced enough to recognise plagiarism when it occurs. Copying another student’s work, using previous work of your own or copying large sections from a book or the internet are examples of plagiarism and carry serious consequences. If you are a business student and joined Coventry University in September 2020 or later please use APA 7th edition referencing, if you joined prior to this date you may use APA or the existing Harvard Reference Style (Coventry version) that you are familiar with. Law students should use OSCOLA. Please be consistent in the referencing style that you use and use it correctly to avoid a case of plagiarism or cheating being brought. If you are unsure, please contact the Centre for Academic Writing, your Progress Coach or a member of the course team.

Return of Marked Work

You can expect to have marked work returned to you in 15 working days after your submission date. If for any reason there is a delay you will be kept informed. Marks and feedback will be provided online. As always, marks will have been internally moderated only, and will therefore be provisional; your mark will be formally agreed later in the year once the external examiner has completed his / her review.