University of Brighton
Brighton Business School
Module Report Template
Module Title: Logistics and Supply Chain Consulting
Module Code: OPM43
Courses/ Years Taught: MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Module Leader: Peter McCullen
Other members of the teaching team: Patrick Ballin
Semester (or weeks taught if block mode): Term 2
Academic Year: 2012-13
Introduction
The module was delivered to 8 students from MSc LSCM in workshop mode via 2 x 2hour sessions.
Two other students from MSc Management and the MBA, taking the OPM49 elective, also joined in
the workshops and visits. The module included visits to the Jaguar Car plant in Birmingham, the Liz
Earle (beauty products) e-fulfilment centre on the Isle of Wight, and Body Shop’s main warehouse
and e-fulfilment centre in Littlehampton. All three visits included presentations on company logistics
and supply chain issues. A valuable and interesting guest lecture on retail forecasting and demand
planning was provided by Mike Quintanna, based on his experience of managing the supply chain for
CDs, working with Woolworths and other retailers. Students also played ‘the beer game’ to provide
some experiential learning on the bullwhip effect.
The main assessment was via two group consulting projects with Edwards Vacuum, looking at service
level agreements and forecast accuracy. The consulting project was underpinned by module content
and by a two day consulting skills workshop held in late January. Students also drew on material from
other modules, particularly QNM02 Forecasting and Modelling, OPM42 Operations Management for
Logistics, and ML304 Moving to Masters, which included some content on the impact of cultural
differences.
Statistical data including passes and referrals
The consulting presentation to the client and the report were group assignments, and the marks for
groups are shown, as well as the average for the cohort.
Group 1
Group 2
Cohort mean
Presentation to
client
62
75
68.5
Group report
Individual reflections
Overall
58
72
65
56.9
64.3
The consultancy project worked much better this year, reflecting the capability and engagement of the
cohort. With one exception, the individual reflections were disappointing, with very few students
referring to either the Moving to Masters module (which included work on multicultural teams) and the
consultancy skills module.
Attendance:
MSc LSCM students attended well. The students on the elective attended less well. The MBA student
was unable to attend some sessions due to block delivery of core MBA modules.
Student Feedback:
Individual module feedback is no longer collected. Course feedback has been collected centrally, but
has not yet been distributed.
On the basis of the individual reports, however, it is apparent that the students found their
assignments challenging but appreciated the opportunity to apply their learning to a real organisation,
and recognised the benefits in relation to their CVs and career development. One student objected to
having to reflect both as an individual and collectively as a group.
Module/component organisation
Formative mechanisms for the consulting project had previously been built in, and these proved
invaluable.
External Examiner Comment
A short commentary on issues raised by external examiners and action taken as a result. This will
need to be added after external examiner comment has been received.
Action Plan
The importance of underpinning learning on multi-cultural teams (ML304) and consultancy skills to be
given greater emphasis by the teaching team.
Routing of report:
An electronic copy of this module report should be submitted to the administrative office responsible
for the courses where the module is delivered at the same time that marks are submitted to the office,
so (where necessary) the report can be circulated to the relevant external examiner(s), with sample
work, prior to the meeting of the examination board. The office will also upload copies of module
reports into the Quality Folder on BBS storage, so that they can then be accessed by relevant subject
group leaders and course leaders.
Where an external examiner makes comments about a module at an examination board or in their
external examiner report, these comments should be incorporated into, and responded to, in a revised
module report, which is then forwarded in electronic form to the School Quality Director (SQD) and
the relevant subject group leader. The module leader’s response should be conveyed to the external
examiner by the person designated to formally respond to the particular external examiner (who will
normally be a subject group leader or course leader). The SQD will upload a revised copy of the
module report into the Quality Folder in BBS storage.
The SQD will monitor reports, and will liaise with subject group leaders about any outstanding issues.