Course Objective

ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH SKILLS – STUDENTS CAN CONDUCT A BASIC
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECT FROM START TO FINISH

ACADEMIC SKILLS
After successfully completing this course, the student
• can analyze and demonstrate an understanding of supply chain problems
taking into account interests of different stakeholders (economic,
ecological, societal and others) and evaluate (future) performance
effects of supply chain policy options.

BRIDGING THEORY AND PRACTICE

KNOWLEDGE: Demonstrates theoretical and empirical knowledge concerning
the relevant areas in international business administration
After successfully completing this course, the student:
• can explain the transition from a linear to a closed loop (circular)
economy and its implications for Supply Chain Management

APPLICATION: Can propose a solution to an international real-life
business problem by applying relevant theories and methodologies.
After successfully completing this course, the student:
• can apply a sustainable supply chain analysis framework to assess
contemporary topics in sustainable supply chain management and to
analyze supply chain management cases.
• can formulate recommendations for improvement of supply chains from a
sustainable perspective

QUANTITATIVE SKILLS
• Can quantify the economic, ecological and societal objectives for
supply
chain management cases by applying and master commonly used techniques
to tackle real life sustainable supply chain management problems.

Course Content

This course aims to introduce students in operationalizing
sustainability in supply chains. We define sustainability as the
combined economic, environmental, and social optimum of supply chain
alternatives that take into account constraints, such as technological
limits or legislation, also known as the triple bottom line (TBL)
approach of People-Planet-Profit optimization. Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA) is presented as a methodology to quantify the environmental impact
of products and processes and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to
quantity social impact. Multi Criteria Decision Analysis is introduced
as a concept to operationalize the TBL approach for practical
sustainable supply chain problems. Next we discuss systems thinking
using Systems Dynamics for understanding and evaluating the complex and
interactive behaviour of systems, such as sustainable supply chains.
Finally the sustainability evaluation of supply chains and the
management of
reverse supply chains will be addressed.

Teaching Methods

Lectures and computer tutorials

Method of Assessment

Written exam – Individual assessment
(Interim) Assignment(s) – Group assessment

Literature

Readings will be announced via Canvas.

Additional Information

During the course students will build models using software tools (MS
Excel and Vensim). How to use this software tools will be explained
during the lectures and tutorials, but students should know that they
will have to use these tools to complete the written assignments. The
software will be available on public PC's of the VU but can also be
installed on the individual laptops.

Recommended background knowledge

It is recommended that students are familiar with key concepts and
techniques from business or operations management and (business)
mathematics.