Education and Supply Chain
Management – Research Findings of
Dr. Katy Ellis
College of Business and
Technology
Northeastern State
University
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Michael Landry, Ph.D., MBA,
Professor of Marketing
“Exploring Perceptions of Consistency in University
Curriculum Content for Supply Chain Management” by Katy
Ellis, Ph.D.

Ongoing growth of supply chain management (SCM)
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–
–


Technology
International trade
E-commerce
Concern about adequate education for SCM
professionals.
Purpose of the research:
–
–
–
Determine curricula of best undergraduate SCM programs
Determine similarities among them.
See if coursework meets needs of SCM.
Problems

“…academic institutions have been criticized
in the last several years for not providing
enough SCM graduates with the skill set and
knowledge base necessary to support
modern business needs (Crook et al., 2008; Lancioni et
al., 2001b; Lapaque, 2003; Powell, 2003; Siegfried, 2005).”
Page 54 of dissertation
Problems


SCM is a relatively new academic discipline.
There is not enough instructional material
specifically aimed at SCM.
Page 54 of dissertation
Problems

But what kind of instructional material does
SCM need?
Institute for Supply Management
SCM Functions








Purchasing/procurement
Contract development and administration
Negotiations
Transportation and logistics
Physical distribution and warehousing
Inventory control and management
Strategic planning/sourcing
Product/service development
–
Institute for Supply Management, 2010, Supply Management Activities
section, para. 1.
Page 21 of dissertation
Institute for Supply Management
SCM Functions






Manufacturing
Problem solving
Relationship management
Supplier evaluation
Economic forecasting
Materials management
–
Institute for Supply Management, 2010, Supply Management
Activities section, para. 1.
Page 21 of dissertation
The Research


Use SCM functions from Institute for Supply
Management’s Certified Professional in
Supply Management (CPSM) to determine
industry standards of CSM knowledge.
See how top university SCM curricula
compare.
The Research



Nineteen universities
434 courses examined.
Classified according to 44 subject categories.
Findings
Subject Category
Data and Database Mgmt. Systems
Marketing, International
Product Development
Project Management
Risk Management
Social Responsibility
Carrier Management
Lean Manufacturing
Materials Management and Inventory
Outsourcing, International
Safety, Industrial
Consumer Behavior
Leadership
Negotiations
Mandatory
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.05
.05
.05
.05
.05
.05
.11
.11
Elective___
.26
.16
.16
.11
.11
.11
.16
.00
.05
.00
.00
12
.11
.00
.11
Findings
Subject Category
Quality
Seminar, SCM, Log. or Trans.
Warehouse Management
Decision Systems, Logistics
Communications, Business
Decision Systems, SCM
Demand Management
Distribution
International Business
Technology, ERP, SAP, and SCM
Business Policy
Ethics
Human Resources
International SCM, Log. or Trans.
Mandatory
.11
.11
.11
.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
.21
.21
.21
.32
Elective___
.21
.05
.00
.00
.00
.11
.00
.11
.21
.32
.00
.00
.00
.16
Findings
Introduction to Business
Purchasing/Procurement/Sourcing
Strategic Management
Decision Systems, Business
Transportation
Information Systems, Business
Logistics
SCM
Law, Business
Org. Behavior/Prin. of Management
Operations/Production Management
Accounting
Marketing (Pricing, Selling, and Retail)
Economics
Cost/Finance
Statistics
.32
.37
.37
.42
.42
.58
.58
.63
.63
.74
.79
.84
.84
.89
.89
.89
.00
.21
.05
.16
.16
.05
.11
.21
.00
.05
.11
.00
.00
.00
.05
.00
Findings
Subject Category
Decision Systems, Business
Transportation*
Information Systems, Business
Logistics*
SCM*
Law, Business
Org. Behavior/Prin. of Management
Operations/Production Management
Accounting
Marketing (Pricing, Selling, and Retail)
Economics
Cost/Finance
Statistics
Mandatory
.42
.42
.58
.58
.63
.63
.74
.79
.84
.84
.89
.89
.89
Elective__
.16
.16
.05
.11
.21
.00
.05
.11
.00
.00
.00
.05
.00