Task: This Assessment focuses on students' ability to conduct research on an important issue related to the subject. This assignment consists of a research report (2000 words inclusive of references) You have to identify and examine a real Australian company’s supply chain and investigate a real supply chain management problem/need facing that organisation. You are expected to identify new technologies used by supply chains, identify best practice SSCM solutions adopted by the industry, and propose better solutions than the industry currently has for solving the problem/need in question to allow it to set best practices in the future– eg Industry 4.0 standards. SCOPE: Investigates a real world case study (preferably an Australian case study or internationally based but sole reliance on websites as your source of information will not be favourably regarded). Some of the suggested research topic areas can be (note this list is not exhaustive so please seek approval for your topic from your lecturer): 1. 1) Design and implementation of sustainable (Environmental, Social, and/or Economic) supply chains: motivations, strategies, benefits and challenges 2. 2) Supply chain risk and uncertainty mitigation strategies: benefits and challenges from real-world implementation 3. 3) Supply chain network design/reconfiguration/optimisation including logistics, distribution and warehouse strategies: implementation challenges and solutions 4. 4) The application of information systems, in particular RFID, Block Chain, IoT, Big Data and other emerging SSCM deployable technologies in supply chains/value networks 5. 5) Advantages and challenges of supply chain integration and collaboration: lessons from a real world problem and how these challenges can be overcome 6. 6) Supply chain transformation through the adaptation of cloud systems (cloud computing technology or IoT or other): implementation, benefits and challenges 7. 7) Strategic sourcing, procurement and decision making – new emerging ways. Data Source: Students will need to collect real data from actual cases. Valid sources for obtaining such data may include: 1. 1) Visits to the case company and interviewing key personnel for obtaining primary data and insights 2. 2) Company’s annual/quarterly reports 3. 3) Related supply chain management (design, planning, optimisation and analysis) articles and news 4. 4) Company’s website and use available literature to establish any industry or sector trends. Objectives of the Assessment: 1. Presenting the review of the current status of the SC for the selected topic, and drawing/mapping the current SC for that firm – and understanding how the topic area you are investigating is positioned across the wider SC. 2. Investigate theoretical models for the topic in question, research and ground your work from academics. 3. Investigate existing best practices from industry in the topic area and cite examples from industry on what and how they have deployed it in bringing transformation. 4. Investigate the impact of the current inefficiencies that exist in the area you are investigating - ie presenting various risks with the current process (cost, legal, technical, biological etc) 5. Providing alternative and innovative approaches/solutions to solve the problem/need and mapping the new process, and in some cases implementing the solution. 6. Make recommendations and proposing an implementation plan to solve the problem/need and improve the current situation and converting to best practice. 7. Through exemplary work and best-in-class industry citations make knowledge contribution to SSCM extant literature and identify future research developments. By addressing the above objectives, the assignment aims at answering the problem/need faced/required by the firm and gives the firm a practical solution that can be deployed, the practical solution to a real need is key to this problem-solving exercise. Written Assignment Submission structure: The report should have a simple and clear structure. An example of the structure is as follows (This is only an example, I strongly suggest you to be creative and build your own structure that supports your arguments): 1. 1) Cover page 2. 2) Executive summary Main problem/need identified Highlights of the recommended solution Main recommendations Expected benefits, and potential risks 3. 3) Introduction The introduction should include background to the project and an explanation of the main issues and problems. Briefly set out an explanation of how you tackled the case and how the report is organised. Problems and issues should be adequately discussed and, if appropriate, prioritized. 4. 4) Body of the report Here you connect your problem to the SSCM strategy of the business, present summaries of evidence, the theoretical framework used, the results of your analysis, and finally your conclusions with recommendations. This is the foundation of your report. 5. 5) Recommendations They must be based on the analysis you did in the body of the report, and they must be supported with evidences, facts etc. Your recommendations must be reasonable, and supported with some indication of cost as well. I expect you to have a detailed understanding of the capability of any technology you suggest and why. 6. 6) Appendices (if any) Your appendices may contain, for example, detailed tables of data, details of how you did a calculation, interview records if included, or photographs if of some interest. 7) References The project is directed at the collection and analysis of data, references are not expected to be of a wide ranging nature, but if you use material from another source then reference it properly. Written Assignment Submission format: • - Use Font 12 Calibri with single line spacing and submit the Microsoft Word file only. Max word count is 3000 words inclusive of references (suit yourself for the appropriate word count and length of the report - Only submit one file). • - A review of literature is required along with a critical and academically robust report wherein you need to include appropriate citations of references from the SSCM literature as appropriate (Preferably 15-20 top tier journal articles – see ABDC journal list for identifying top-tier journals) • - Your focus should be on SSCM components eg. network design, warehousing, distribution, logistics, sourcing, risk management, sustainability, technology etc into your analysis. • - Marking Criteria broadly includes (1) relevance of your answer to the question or task set, (2) clarity of expression, (3) creativity/innovation, (4) citations beyond the given subject material, (5) logical planning and sequence, (6) appropriate written and/or oral presentation of the work and (7) application of theory, practical insights, and useful recommendations for implementation including knowledge contribution ensuring learning objectives are attained.