Course content

Strategic importance of purchasing and logistics; supply chain management; economic considerations related to logistical and purchasing decisions; strategic alignment of logistics and purchasing; sourcing strategies and strategies for selection of suppliers; organisation and control of the purchasing function; development of supplier relationships and networks; purchasing and innovation; sustainable logistics and purchasing; digitization in purchasing and logistics, public procurement.

Learning outcome

Position of the course in the study program: The course is a specialization course in the fourth year of the MTIØT program. The course builds on the course TIØ4265 Strategic Management and is compulsory for students who wish to take the specialization Strategic Supply Management. The course contributes by giving the students broad and sound basic knowledge in administrative and economic areas, in particular within the area of purchasing and supplier management and logistics management, as described under point 2.2 in the complete learning objectives for the programme of study in Industrial Economics and Technology Management.

The course will provide knowledge about the following: - General knowledge about purchasing and supply management - General knowledge about logistics management - Specific knowledge about models and theoretical concepts related to the following themes: strategic importance of logistics, logistics costs and value, logistics strategies, global supply chains, risk in supply chains, digitization in supply chains, supply chain management, strategic importance and alignment of the purchasing function, make-or-buy, purchasing strategies, digitisation and purchasing, purchasing processess, supplier development, supplier relationships, supply networks, strategic alignment of purchasing and logistics, organization of purchasing and logistics, performance measurement, purchasing decisions and analyses, involving suppliers in product development, sustainable purchasing and logistics, public procurement.

The course will provide competences in: - Analysing a company´s strategic situation, with a particular emphasis on its purchasing function, logistics function and supplier network - Developing suggestions for change and development of a company´s strategies for the purchasing function, including management of supplier relationships and networks and the logistics function. Other important learning outcomes: - The students will work in groups and obtain training in analysing realistic cases, and in developing managerial implications with a particular focus on purchasing and logistics. Thereby, the students will also acquire experience with working in groups as well as with writing reports for a company or public organization - The students will, by means of lectures, assignments and a written exam, be encouraged to reflect on and combine key perspectives and frameworks within the fields of purchasing management and logistics management.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and compulsory assignments. The course will be taught in English and all course material is in English.

Compulsory assignments

• Group exercise

Recommended previous knowledge

Requires TIØ4265 Strategic Management or similar background.

Course materials

To be announced by the start of the semester.

Credit reductions