Course content

This course introduces students to the principles and practices of sustainable purchasing and supplier management, emphasizing the integration of environmental, social, and economic considerations into procurement and supply processes.

Students will learn about:

• the scope and key definitions in sustainable purchasing.
• purchasing in the supply chain context.
• the sustainable purchasing process
• public procurement & competitive bidding
• purchasing strategy.
• organizing the purchasing and supply function.
• innovative procurement.
• ethical and social procurement
• negotiation strategy and tactics.
• types of sourcing strategies.
• supplier management tools and models.
• buyer-supplier relationships.

The course is given every other year, next time fall 2027.

Learning outcome

In this course the students shall learn about the theory and methods in sustainable procurement and supplier relationships management which ensure that firms build value chains that are robust economically, socially and environmentally.

Knowledge

At the end of this course, students will have:

• knowledge of the principles and importance of sustainable procurement in private and public organizations.
• knowledge of procurement function’s role in driving economic, environmental, and social value across the supply chain
• knowledge of ethical, social and sustainable sourcing practices.
• knowledge of how innovative procurement can create value through new solutions and strengthened collaboration with the supplier market.

Skills

Students should be able to:

• develop sustainable procurement and supplier strategies for an organization.
• implement a needs analysis that addresses an organizations economic, social, and environmental demands
• evaluate supplier offers with an emphasis on sustainability criteria.
• use negotiation strategies to influence sustainable practices among suppliers.

General competence

Students should be able to apply knowledge and skills to:

• design supply strategies that support the organization’s sustainability goals.
• make procurement decisions that balance cost, quality, and sustainability.
• lead and implement projects in sustainable procurement in collaboration with suppliers.

Learning methods and activities

• Lectures
• Case studies
• Guest lectures
• Role-playing scenarios

Compulsory assignments

• Oblig 2
• Oblig

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

SMF1200 Intro to logistics management

SMF1200 Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Course materials

• Brynhildsvoll, Ivar. Principles for Better Procurement (4th ed., 2024). Fagbokforlaget.
• Supplementary literature and online resources will be available on the learning platform.

Credit reductions