Supply Chain Management

1
Supply Chain Management (BU58C1) – Individual Project (3000 words, 100% marks)
This individual project aims to apply supply chain and related aspects covered in the course. The word count is 3000
(excluding references, table of contents, and appendices where used), with +/-10% limits allowed. The assignment
accounts for 100% of your overall module marks. The topics are given below. You can select ONLY ONE topic.
1. How does supply chain management contribute to performance dimensions (e.g., examples of agile supply chains
contributing to performance dimensions during covid-19). Performance dimensions are social, environmental, and
economical.
2. How do analytics and data contribute to performance dimensions (e.g., customer analytics to understand customer
preferences and acting according to enhance performance dimensions)
3. How supply chain technologies contribute to performance dimensions (e.g., Internet of things and RFID for
automated data collection and its effects on performance dimensions)
4. How do network analytics contribute to the dimensions of performance (e.g., exploring supply chain actors’
networks and analysing their contributions to performance dimensions (e.g., Internet of things and automated data
collection and its effects on business performance)
5. How do optimisation and operational tools contribute to performance dimensions (e.g., optimising supply chain
flows to minimise supply chain costs)
Structure: Your project should be structured in the following sections and the focus should be as per the marks allocated.
Section Details Marks %
1) Introduction and the
scenario for the problem
and issues you want to
address
• Guiding the reader what is included in the project; the
sequence and a brief explanation of each section
• Description of the specific problem and related issues
you want to address
15%
2) Up-to-date literature
review with a critical
approach
• Significance, breadth of sources, criticality, consistent
referencing style, tightly connected with the topic,
application, and examples for justification
3) Technical platform,
relevant challenges, and
the scenario after
implementation of your
solutions
• Define the technological platform (or measures) that
you think are the most suitable to solve the problem and
issues described in Section 1, providing examples and
justification using cross-referencing from Section 2.
• Solution(s) after implementation
4) Discussion and
conclusions
• Summarising
• Compare findings with the literature
• Recommendations for managers
• Limitations and future research recommendations
15%
5) Overall quality • Logically written
• Overall, tightly connected with the
question/topic/application
• High quality of referencing
• Tables, figures, and data used
15%
Re-sit Note: This assessment significantly focuses on examining contemporary concepts. A choice of various topics is
provided. In the case of re-sitting, the student will NOT be allowed to work on the same topic, although the structure
will remain the same. The student will have to select a new topic for his/her re-sit. Therefore, the assignment descriptor
is also appropriate for the re-sit if required.
Referencing: You are required to use Harvard referencing style,
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/library/documents/guides/qgcit002.pdf
Words: 525 – 620
20%
Words: 715 – 785
Words: 525 – 620
35%
Words: 1165 – 1280
2
Assessment Criteria and Guidelines
Grade PGT Award Grade Point Band Descriptor
A First 22.00-18.00 Excellent in all respects
B Upper Second 17.99-15.00 Very good in most respects
C Lower Second 14.99-12.00 Good in most respects
D Third 11.99-9.00 Pass, average in most respects
E Below Third 8.99-6.00 Marginal Fail, mere satisfactory evidence of overall grasp
F Below Third 5.99-3.00 Fail, not satisfactory performance
G Below Third 2.99-0.00 Fai, no submission
A B C D E F G
1. Introduction and the scenario for the problem and issues
Guide the reader on what is included
in the project; sequence and a brief
explanation of each section
No structure, sequence, and a brief
explanation of the sections
A detailed description of the problem
and issues, where the application is
required, and why
No description of the current state, not
justified why the application is
required, and key parts missing
Research, analyse, evaluate and
consolidate relevant information and
data that help to identify the gap in
the required
application/technologies or to
support your arguments for the
problem
No relevant information to the
application, no evaluation or analysis of
information regarding the chosen
technology/application
2. Up-to-date literature review with a critical approach
High quality and a broad range of
literature sources for the arguments,
reflecting a critical literature review
approach
Few (or no) relevant sources are used
for the arguments, or they are used in
a confused, uncritical, or superficial
manner
Sources/references are frequently
explained individually so the reader
can easily understand the findings of
the study presented
References are often mixed up and
they confuse the reader to understand
the past findings
Excellently connected with the
chosen application/topic, clearly
showing how it contributes to
performance dimensions
Loosely connected with the chosen
topic or irrelevant points were
provided with no focus on links with
performance dimensions
Accurately & completely list all
sources used, logically written and
connected, and theories/models
used for referencing as explained in
the template
Missing list or inaccurate referencing,
sloppily presented; typos & avoidable
errors no structure; jargon; repetition
& padding
3
3. Technical platform, relevant challenges, and the scenario after implementation of your solutions
Define the technological platform
and techniques that are suitable for
solving the problem described in
Section 1 and supported by the
literature
Disjointed the technological platform
and techniques with Section 1 and the
literature
The key challenges faced during the
implementation are mentioned
The challenges not mentioned
Appropriately and realistically
describe solution(s) and mapping
against the problem mentioned in
Section 1
No description of the future state and
mapping against the scenario
mentioned in Section 1
Effectively comparing the situation
before and after implementation
Confusingly presenting the
comparison
Demonstrating powers of critical
analysis
The effects of the implementation not
included
4. Discussion and conclusions
Excellently summarise the findings,
and connect them with the scenarios
and literature
Not summarised or connected with the
scenarios
Evidence-based recommendations
for managers that are excellently
connected with the scenarios and
literature
Lack of evidence-based
recommendations and loosely
connected with the scenarios and
literature
Discussion of insightful and specific
analysis
Lack of insightful analysis, only generic
discussion included
Overall quality
Highly effective style of writing –
All sentences/paragraphs/sections
are logically written and connected
Repetitive, unclear writing, disjointed
sentences/paragraphs/sections and they
do not strongly intersect with assignment
aims and create confusion
Tables, figures, and latest data
appropriately utilised
Tables, figures, and latest data are not
used
Appropriate length Under/over the appropriate length
Grammar/spelling correct Many grammar/spelling errors
Accurate referencing Inaccurate or missing references

.
1. How does supply chain management contribute to performance dimensions (e.g., examples of agile supply chains contributing to performance dimensions during covid-19). Performance dimensions are social, environmental, and economical.
2. How do analytics and data contribute to performance dimensions (e.g., customer analytics to understand customer preferences and acting according to enhance performance dimensions)
3. How supply chain technologies contribute to performance dimensions (e.g., Internet of things and RFID for automated data collection and its effects on performance dimensions)
4. How do network analytics contribute to the dimensions of performance (e.g., exploring supply chain actors’ networks and analysing their contributions to performance dimensions (e.g., Internet of things and automated data collection and its effects on business performance)
5. How do optimisation and operational tools contribute to performance dimensions (e.g., optimising supply chain flows to minimise supply chain costs)