Evaluate the effects of recent challenges in your chosen organization’s supply chain?

Module title

Supply Chain Management and Digital Transformation

CRN

59121

Level

6

Assessment title

Assignment 2 (Report)

Weighting within module

This assessment is worth 70% of the overall module mark.

Module Leader/Assessment set by

Submission deadline date and time

For coursework assessments only: students with a Reasonable Adjustment Plan (RAP) or Carer Support Plan should check your plan to see if an extension to this submission date has been agreed.

How to submit

You should submit your assessment for grading no later than 16:00 on the submission deadline. Your final assessment should be uploaded via Final Version [Not the Draft] site ‘TurnitIn’ on the L6 Supply Chain Management and Digital Transformation Blackboard site. 

As the University will mark assessments anonymously where this is possible, please use your student roll number and not your name on your submission.

Assessment task details and instructions

“Israel–Palestine and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have shown that a resilient and flexible supply chain is essential for businesses to stay competitive and maintain business continuity. Industry 4.0, which is characterized by advancements in technology such as automation, data analysis, and the Internet of Things, is making it even more important for businesses to have a robust supply chain. Disruptions in the supply chain can result in significant financial losses and even threaten a company`s viability. With the rise of Industry 5.0, which is characterized by the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and big data, the global market is undergoing a major transformation. This shift has a significant impact on the way goods are produced, distributed, and consumed. As a result, it is critical for supply chain management professionals to stay ahead of the curve and be prepared for the coming changes.

Based on the above statement, you are asked to choose a 2000 Global Company and critically:

i. Evaluate the effects of recent challenges in your chosen organization’s supply chain? (800 words)

ii. Examine and suggest how advanced technologies could be utilized to address the supply chain issues in your selected organization and achieve a competitive advantage. (1000 words)

iii. What would be the implications of transitioning to Industry 5.0 on your selected organization’s supply chain, and what strategies could be put in place to prepare their supply chain for these shifts? (1000 words)

For each question above, you should support your arguments by bringing clear examples related to the company of your choice. You will also need to consider the following when completing your assignment:

• Establishment of relevant theory (e.g. how supply chain strategy is differentiated from region to region?)
• Allocation of credit and sources used (have I included references and citations to the material I have used?)
• Clarity of argument
• Overall report structure including spelling and grammar
• Adherence to nominated word limit (+/- 10%)
• Word processed (letter size 12, Calibri, 1.5 space)
• Fully referenced (APA 7th (Harvard) Style).
• Please refer to the reading list and academic sources issued in Blackboard
• The report should be written in third person.

Your report should have: 

• Cover page 
• Executive Summary; (not part of the word count) 5%
• Contents page;
• Introduction (100 words) 5%
• Main body split in sub sections based on the 3 questions
• Conclusion (100 words) 5%
• References / Bibliography;
• Appendices if required.

The report should also be page numbered. Please note if you are uncertain on how to present and structure a report then visit the university library and ask for assistance.

Assessment Criteria

Marking scheme:

Explicit marking criteria and mark ranges can be found below.

Knowledge and Understanding

Practical, Professional or Subject Specific Skills

Assessed intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this assessment, you will be able to:

1. Critically analyse the theory, concepts and models of global supply chain management to interpret and understand complex and ambiguous risks in global logistics and supply chain environments.
2. Investigate and evaluate the range of strategic issues that face the supply chain industry making use of Industry information data sources.
3. Demonstrate a critical understanding of underlying concepts related to supply chains and digital transformation
4. Develop a deep and systematic understanding of the implications of digital transformation for the supply chain industry

1. Relate theory to practise by interpreting strategic issues within the supply chain industry and the challenge organisations pose for the different functional areas of the business
2. Evaluate the challenge of supply chain management about the organisation`s structure, operations processes, systems, technology and partnerships
3. Assess the capacity and capability of organisations to meet the requirements of carrying out strategic plans in the digital transformation era
4. Appraise and critique the potentials of digital transformation improving visibility, decision making, monitoring and informing within supply chain contexts and/or case studies.
5. Formulate suitable optimisation techniques for pertinent decision problems in supply chain management.

Employability Skills developed / demonstrated

Communication YES

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving YES

Data Literacy YES

Digital Literacy YES

Industry Awareness YES

Innovation and Creativity YES

Proactive Leadership YES

Reflection and Life-Long Learning YES

Self-management and Organisation YES

Team Working YES

Word count/ duration (if applicable)

The maximum word count is 3,000 words (+/- 10%). Your word count is from the introduction to conclusion sections. Therefore, it does not include title page, contents page, reference section, diagrams, figures, tables, appendices etc. If the assignment exceeds these limits; the work in excess of 3,000 is not marked

Feedback arrangements

You can expect to receive feedback by

• Three working weeks (excluding University Seasonal Closing) after the submission date.
• Marks and written feedback will be available on the Level 6 Supply Chain Management and Digital Transformation module Blackboard site
• You will need to log into the full site to access the written feedback.
• An announcement will be made informing you of the release.

Academic Integrity and Referencing

Students are expected to learn and demonstrate skills associated with good academic conduct (academic integrity). Good academic conduct includes the use of clear and correct referencing of source materials. Here is a link to where you can find out more about the skills which students need:

Academic integrity & referencing

Referencing

Academic Misconduct is an action which may give you an unfair advantage in your academic work. This includes plagiarism, asking someone else to write your assessment for you or taking notes into an exam. The University takes all forms of academic misconduct seriously. 

Assessment Information and Support

Support for this Assessment

You can obtain support for this assessment by attending your module lectures, seminars and drop-in sessions.  The seminars and drop-in session provide you with good opportunities to ask questions to provide clarity and direction on the subject and addressing the assessment brief.  Also, there are additional ad-hoc drop is sessions which are on the academic’s office where we aim to be in our office during that time.  You can e-mail and visit the module Blackboard site for the regular updates that can directly support your learning in the subject and in developing your assignment.

You can find more information about understanding your assessment brief and assessment tips for success here.

Assessment Rules and Processes

You can find information about assessment rules and processes in Blackboard in the Assessment Support module.

Develop your Academic and Digital Skills

Find resources to help you develop your skills here.

Concerns about Studies or Progress

If you have any concerns about your studies, contact your Academic Progress Review Tutor/Personal Tutor or your Student Progression Administrator (SPA).

askUS Services

The University offers a range of support services for students through askUS including Disability and Inclusion Service, Wellbeing and Counselling Services.

Personal Mitigating Circumstances (PMCs)

If personal mitigating circumstances (e.g. illness or other personal circumstances) may have affected your ability to complete this assessment, you can find more information about the Personal Mitigating Circumstances Procedure here. Independent advice is available from the Students’ Union Advice Centre about this process:  https://www.salfordstudents.com/advice/centre

In Year Retrieval Scheme

Your assessment is not eligible for in year retrieval. If you are eligible for this scheme, you will be contacted shortly after the feedback deadline.

You can find more information about this scheme in the Assessment Support module in Blackboard.

Reassessment

If you fail your assessment, and are eligible for reassessment, your resubmission date will be provided on your reassessment assignment, and you will need to submit your assignment for reassessment on or before that date. The reassessment will be the same assessment. For students with accepted personal mitigating circumstances, this will be your replacement assessment attempt. Students should be aware that there is no late submission period at reassessment (this includes those students who have an accepted PMC request from a previous attempt).

We know that having to undergo a reassessment can be challenging however support is available.  Have a look at all the sources of support outlined earlier in this brief and refer to the Personal Effectiveness resources.

Criterion / Mark range

90-100

80-89

70-79

60-69

50-59

40-49

30-39

0-29

Overall level

(indicative – not for grading)

Standard comparable to journal publication

Standard comparable to conference paper publication

Distinctive work for Level 6

Very good work for second class

Good work for third class

Work for pass level

Below pass standards

Significantly below pass standards

Use of theory/reference to course ideas

Exceptional knowledge and outstanding conceptual understanding and ability to handle very complex issues and theories and/or specialised principles and concepts.

Excellent clarity of focus, boundaries set with no significant omissions or unnecessary issues. Excellent expression of ideas.

Clear focus. Very good setting of

boundaries includes most of what is relevant.

Considerable ability and maturity in handling concepts and theories

Clear scope and focus, with some omissions or unnecessary issues.

Good discussion of theories with some awareness of relevance of issues. Ideas are expressed, with some limitation.

Scope evident and satisfactory but with some omissions and unnecessary issues

Poorly scoped, with significant omissions and unnecessary issues.

Limited ability to handle concepts or theories

Little or no scope course ideas used. Inaccurate use of theory/theories

No ability to handle concepts/theori es difficult to read,

Examples

Comprehensive use of examples. Evaluation and synthesis of source material to produce an outstanding contribution.

Excellent with critical awareness of relevance of examples.

Sources are evaluated and synthesised to produce an excellent contribution.

Very good with critical awareness of relevance of examples.

Outstanding expression of ideas. In depth coherent, logical presentation of examples and very critical in nature

Sources are evaluated and synthesized to produce a very good contribution

Wide review of examples, lacking depth but some evidence of critical evaluation, satisfactory knowledge and understanding of main issues.

Basic with limited awareness of relevance of issues. Limited expression of ideas.

Poor use of examples with little awareness of relevance of issues.

Discussion is descriptive in nature and may show lack of knowledge and a clear outcome

Fail to identify relevant examples. Mainly descriptive with serious limitations

Very little or no understanding of subject matter is demonstrated.

Quality of argument

Development and advancement of ideas and practice

Outstanding with critical awareness

Demonstrate excellent knowledge. Very complex issues handled with clear logical outcome.

Clear coherent argument in a structured way and justified

Considerable ability and maturity in handling perceptions. Good quality of argument

Argument has some structure and development

Argument is unstructured, presented &/or written / illustrated with serious limitations

Very week argument with no synthesis and completely inappropriate

No evidence of argument very poor discussion and rationale.