Critically review the role of relationships in the organisation’s approach to materials management, its logistics, and its handling of reverse logistics.

Integrated business systems and the use of enterprise resource planning
(ERP) has transformed operations, logistics, and even the structure of
organisations.
This assignment requires you to demonstrate contemporary knowledge of
supply chain management principles in an organisation known to you. You
are required to critically analyse how these principles work with other aspects
of systems and operations management to create competitive advantage
through sustainable practices.
The assignment requires you to research an organisation known to you. It
can be the one that you work for or one that you have researched. In either
case, it is appreciated that you may not have in-depth knowledge of every
aspect of the supply chain or operations. The primary aim of the assignment
is to show your ability to apply academic theory to practice and for this
reason, some reasonable assumptions can be made.
You may choose any organisation you wish, but clearly, as the questions focus
on supply chains, the organisation should have one of these. Large
manufacturing organisations are a good choice because they have substantial
use of both materials management and logistics. Airlines and large restaurant
and hotel groups may also be appropriate.
You are a specialist in supply chain management and have been asked to
review the supply chain of a company known to you. You have been provided
with three tasks as outlined below. Each of the tasks is to be addressed within
the report format.
Task 1
Critically review the subject organisation’s approach to materials
management. You should review the structure of the supply chain, its
approach to management of intermediaries, and how lean and agile practices
might produce competitive advantage for the organisation.
(LO1, LO3, LO5) 40 marks
Task 2
Critically review the role of relationships in the organisation’s approach to
materials management, its logistics, and its handling of reverse logistics.
You should consider such aspects as contractual arrangements and how
activities such as outsourcing impact upon the operations.
(LO2) 30 marks
Task 3
Critically analyse the role of emerging technologies in the subject
organisation’s approach to supply chain. The analysis should cover the
application of information technology, materials planning, and systems
development to manage supply chains and their relationships within it.
(LO4) 30 marks
Guidelines
Please read all questions and information provided carefully. Answers should
be an appropriate length, keeping in mind the question requirements and
total word count allowance.
In addition, your assignment should demonstrate the following qualities:
A critical appreciation of relevant literature and its use to support your
argument, substantiate calculations, and address other aspects of the
assignment.
Taking ownership of the content, being prepared to debate and argue a
personal position, and providing evidence of evaluative skills. A submission
made up of extracts from published sources which is descriptive or simply
theoretical regurgitation is not acceptable. Your submission must have
interpretation and consideration of the challenges and issues of applying
theory to practice.
Logical flow of ideas and treatment; appropriate selection of real-world
factors related to the companies under scrutiny.
Evidence of additional personal research, and the ability to analyse material
from a variety of appropriate, relevant perspectives.
Presentation, structure, appropriateness of methodology, breaking into
section headings/subheadings, tidiness.

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