FISHER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
DEPARTMENT OF MARKETING AND LOGISTICS
COURSE SYLLABUS
TERM:
Spring 2015 – Term 1
COURSE TITLE:
BUS M&L 8380, Logistics Research Seminar
COURSE TIME/
PLACE:
Tuesday and Thursday 12:45 PM to 2:15 PM / Fisher Hall, 500
COURSE
DESCRIPTION:
In this seminar, students will review and discuss a broad cross
section of research articles in the realm of logistics management. During
the discussions particular emphasis will be placed on the interest and
merit of the research question(s), the appropriateness of the theoretical
framework and/or hypothesis development, the adequacy of the research
design, including data collection, measurement, and analysis
(methodology), and the accuracy of the discussion of research results.
Each week’s readings will follow a common theme (content area and/or
methodology), such that students will be familiarized with a wide range of
relevant logistics literature and (mostly empirical) methodologies.
INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Michael Knemeyer
Fisher Hall, 548
(614) 292-2507 (office)
(614) 292-0879 (fax)
(937) 532-3036 (cell)
E-mail: knemeyer.4@osu.edu
OFFICE HOURS:
By appointment.
DELIVERABLES:
Grades will be based upon performance on the following:
Assignment
Mini-Research Grant Proposal
Article Evaluations
Class-Sourcing Research Project
Final Examination
Class Participation
TOTAL
Percentage
20%
20%
10%
30%
20%
100%
Mini-Research Grant Proposal
Each student will develop a mini-research grant proposal that is focused on gaining support to
conduct a study on a topic of his or her choice within the domain of logistics management. This
proposal should introduce a relevant research question, review the relevant literature related to
the question, propose a research framework and establish hypotheses to be tested. An
appropriate research methodology/approach for conducting the research should also be
detailed. Provide a budget and timeline for conducting the research. The goal of the miniresearch grant proposal is to convince me of the value of your idea and provide a starting point
for further developing, conducting and eventually publishing the proposed research project.
These proposals should be no longer than 15 pages.
Article Evaluations
Each student will be responsible for writing up an evaluation each week for an assigned article.
These evaluations should be no more than four pages long, double-spaced.
Please follow the format below, using headings, in writing your evaluations. The evaluation should:
1. Provide the title, author(s) and citation for the article.
2. Provide a brief synopsis of the major points of the article (approximately ¾ of a page.)
Review what the article covered and highlight key findings. What is the motivation
for the article? Provide some details on the study results and key findings.
3. List the contributions of the article (approximately ½ of a page.)
How does the paper contribute to an enhanced understanding of the topic? How
does it fit into existing research?
4. Assess how well the article address the established topic (research design). Critique the
methodology or approach used in the article for studying the particular research
question (1 or 2 pages.)
Are the points well grounded in theory? In practice? Are there holes in the logic or
presentation? Omissions?
5. Indicate the managerial implications of the research (approximately ¼ of a page.)
6. Suggest directions for future research (approximately ½ of a page.)
What additional work is needed on the subject? What associated topics could be
researched? Please frame these as potential research questions.
Evaluations are due 2 hours prior to the beginning of class. These evaluations should be
submitted to the appropriate CARMEN Dropbox with hard copies brought to class for all
participants including me.
Class Sourcing Research Project
In an effort to try something new in the seminar, we will conduct what I am terming a class
sourcing research project. The idea is grounded in the crowd sourcing projects that have
emerged over the past few years. The project will involve the class (including me) selecting a
general research topic area during our first session. A discussion board will then be set up in
Carmen to serve as a repository for ideas, thoughts, literature, rough drafts, etc. relating to the
research project. At the end of the term I will evaluate each student’s contribution to this
project. Contributions can come in many forms and my evaluation will not only focus on the
quantity of contributions. The value of the contribution to moving the idea forward will also
serve as a primary criterion for evaluation. At the end of the term, we will determine as a class
the next steps for the project and establish interest/desire of each person to be involved in
further refinement of the project. Any resulting paper/presentation will acknowledge the
contributions of the class members.
Final Examination
A final exam will be given at the end of the course. The final exam will serve as preparation for
the logistics major written exam.
Class Participation
Participation will be based on a combination of factors to include: attendance, preparation for
class, frequency of participation, quality of participation, organization, and conciseness.
Participation will primarily focus on student presentations of their assigned articles as well as
interaction with other students who are presenting their articles.
Class Schedule
Note: I may revise this schedule to accommodate more in-depth focus or discussion where
warranted, or to take advantage of guests if the opportunity should arise. We will attempt to
stay as close to this schedule as possible.
Date
January
February
Topic
13:
Session 1: Overview and Expectations
15:
Session 2: Logistics vs Supply Chain Management
20:
Session 3: Logistics Customer Service
22:
Session 4: Transportation
27:
Session 5: Procurement
29:
Session 6: Inventory Management
3:
Session 7: Information Technology in Logistics
5:
Session 8: Warehousing
10:
Session 9: Sustainability and Reverse Logistics
12:
Session 10: Humanitarian Logistics
17:
Session 11: Logistics Outsourcing and Inter-organizational Relationships
19:
Session 12: Logistics Strategy
24:
Session 13: The Publication Process
26:
Session 14: Final Exam