Logistics and supply chain management
Course No.: 02832690
Credit: 2
Prerequisite:
Program: Undergraduate
Instructor: Zheng Xiaona
Semester: 2014 Fall
Contact Information:
Office: Room 370 Guanghua New Building
Email: xzheng@gsm.pku.edu.cn
Office Hour: To be arranged
Program Learning Goals and Objectives
Learning Goal 1: Graduates will possess a solid understanding of business and management and
will be able to translate this knowledge into practice.
1.1 Objective 1 Our students will have a good command of fundamental theories and
knowledge.
1.2 Objective 2 Our students will have a good command of analytical methods and
decision-making tools.
1.3 Objective 3 Our students will be able to apply theories and methodologies in key
business functions.
Learning Goal 2: Our students will be able to think critically.
2.1 Objective 1 Our students will be able to identify and summarize problems
2.2 Objective 2 Our students will be able to collect data and analyze problems in a critical
manner
2.3 Objective 3 Our students will be able to put forward effective solutions to business
problems
Learning Goal 3: Our students will have a sense of social responsibility.
3.1 Objective 1 Our students will be aware of the importance of ethics.
3.2 Objective 2 Our students will be able to provide solutions that take account of
contrasting ethical standpoints.
Learning Goal 4: Our students will be effective communicators.
4.1 Objective 1 Our students will be proficient in oral and written communication.
4.2 Objective 2 Our students will possess good interpersonal skills.
4.3 Objective 3 Our students will be able to adapt to diverse learning environments.
Learning Goal 5: Our students will have global perspectives.
5.1 Objective 1 Our students will be aware of social and cultural differences.
5.2 Objective 2 Our students will be aware of the impact of globalization on business
operations, opportunities, and challenges.
5.3 Objective 3 Our students will be proficient in English.
Course Overview
As the business world has headed to global and digital economy, companies are facing severe
competition. It is much more difficult for firms to survive, let alone staying competitive, if they
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only focus on internal operations. It is thus vital for companies to collaborate with their supply
chain partners to compete with other supply chains, which makes Supply Chain Management
(SCM) an important issue in business education.
We will cover topics in the areas of inventory management and supply chain management, such
as inventory theory, the bullwhip effect, supply chain contracts, etc.
Course Objectives
The objective of this course is to provide undergraduate students a basic understanding of the
issues in Operations Management and Supply Chain Management, and to provide them with the
tools to analyze and solve business problems.
Detailed Course Plan (tentative)
Lecture 1
Lecture 2
Lecture 3
Lecture 4
Lecture 5
Lecture 6
Lecture 7
Lecture 8
Lecture 9
Lecture 10
Lecture 11
Introduction
Inventory management
Supply contracts
The beer game
Debriefing of the beer game / the bullwhip effect
Procurement and distribution strategies
Multi-channel supply chains
Customer value, and E-business strategies
Supply chain choice
Final project: presentations and discussions
Final exam
About final project
4-5 students per team
Please email a sheet with team member’s names, email address, recent photo to the TA by the
end of 3rd class.
You are expected to use concepts and theories in the area of SCM to
 analyze a real problem or review a certain topic. For example, impact of technologies on
a firm’s operations, collaboration to improve supply chain performance, SC design for
product introduction or distribution
 introduce and analyze a case of successful SCM or failed SCM. You will pick your own
case.
Last session: (1) class presentation, (2) turn in project report
Use double space, font size 11, and keep a length of around 5 pages.
Final Exam：
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Teaching Methods
Lecture, case discussion
IT tools to be used in the classroom
Textbooks
Simchi-Levi, D., Kaminsky, P., Simchi-Levi, E., “Designing and managing the supply chain: concepts,
strategies and case studies,” Irwin-Mcgraw Hill, USA
References & Readings
Cases and supplemental reading material will be provided either before or during class.
Videos, CD-ROMs and other adjunct learning resources used
Video will be used.
Rules students must follow
Everyone is expected to attend and to fully prepare for each class. The instructor and the
teaching assistant (TA) 1 will keep track of class attendance and participation. If you must plan on
missing a class, let the instructor know in advance via email.
Course Assessment
Class participation (and attendance)
Cases/homework
Final exam
Final project
general participation and attendance 15%, beer game
participation 5%
20%
30%
30% (80% group performance + 20% group members’
peer evaluation)
How does this course serve the Assurance of Learning Assessment?
In this course, lectures will help the students to get familiar with the basic concepts and theories in
supply chain management. Through case discussion, they will have a chance to analyze problems
closely related to the real business world. In addition, a final project will enable them to use the
knowledge to identify and analyze real world issues.
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According to the school policy, a TA will be hired if more than 20 students enroll in this course.
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