Assignment title: Information
Module: Global Supply Chain Management
1
Global Supply Chain Management
Assignment 2:
The global supply chain is more than direct ownership of production and distribution. It is also a network of relationships with
both internal and external partners. It requires establishing relationships with organisations operating under completely
different political, economic, and physical environments.
Based on the above statement, you are asked to choose a large enterprise, which has become over the years the cornerstone of the
supply chain (e.g., Nike, Tesco, IKEA, Samsung, Ford, Apple, P&G, DHL, Nestle) and critically discuss: (i) how it manages to establish close
coordination across the globe (including any outsourcing/offshoring decisions and location-specific advantages), (ii) how distinctive
R&D investments helped the company to increase its revenues, (iii) what are the supply chain risks and the associated mitigation
strategy (iv) how advanced technology means/tools (e.g., 3D Printing, Big Data analytics or Internet of Things) help to maintain the
competitive advantage.
Assessment Criteria
This assignment represents 50% of your overall module mark. The maximum word count is 3000 words (+/- 10%). You will also need
to consider the following when completing your assignment:
• Quality of executive summary (does it give a brief complete summary of your paper for an executive to read?)
• Establishment of relevant theory (e.g. how supply chain environments are differentiated from region to region?)
• Allocation of credit and sources used (have I included references and citations to the material I have used?)
• Clarity of argument
• Overall report presentation including spelling and grammar
• Adherence to nominated word limit (+/- 10%)
• Word processed (letter size 12, times new roman, 1.5 space)
• Fully referenced (Harvard Referencing System). Module: Global Supply Chain Management
2
Marking Scheme
Criteria Marks
Use of theory 30
Examples 30
Quality of argument 10
Reference to course ideas 10
Citation and References 10
Conclusions 10
The assignment must be submitted via OnlineCampus. Please remember that marks for assignment will also be awarded in relation to
presentation and structure, and aspects such as use of examples, figures, tables, illustrations and statistics that indicate
wider/independent reading.
Relates to Learning Outcomes:
• Analyse and critically evaluate the ways in which supply chains are adapted in view of specific market dynamics and
environments.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of global lead-time management and time-compression.
• Critically analyse the theory, concepts and models of global supply chain management to interpret and understand complex and
ambiguous risks in global logistics and supply chain environments.
• Locate, summarise and synthesise a range of information from published literature and electronic sources on GSCM.
Assessment Housekeeping:
You are required to follow the University’s regulations regarding plagiarism and citing sources and references used. Assignments
may not be submitted late. Marking penalties for late submission will follow the University regulations for PMC and late
submission. Please note that there are changes in the late submission process this year.Module: Global Supply Chain Management
3
Criterion / Mark
range
90-100 80-89 70-79 60-69 50-59 40-49 0-39
Overall level
(indicative –
not for grading)
Standard comparable to
journal publication
Standard comparable
to conference paper
publication
Distinctive work for Masters
level
Merit work for Masters
level
Acceptable for
Masters
Below Masters
pass standard
Significantly
below Masters
pass standard
Scope Outstanding clarity of
focus, includes what is
important, and excludes
irrelevant issues.
Excellent clarity of focus,
boundaries set with no
significant omissions or
unnecessary issues.
Clear focus. Very good
setting of boundaries
includes most of what is
relevant.
Clear scope and
focus, with some
omissions or
unnecessary issues.
Scope evident and
satisfactory but with
some omissions and
unnecessary issues.
Poorly scoped,
with significant
omissions and
unnecessary
issues.
Little or no
scope or focus
evident.
Understanding
of subject
matter
Outstanding with critical
awareness of relevance
of issues. Outstanding
expression of ideas.
Excellent with critical
awareness of relevance
of issues. Excellent
expression of ideas.
Very good with critical
awareness of relevance of
issues. Outstanding
expression of ideas.
Good with some
awareness of
relevance of issues.
Ideas are expressed,
with some limitation.
Basic with limited
awareness of
relevance of issues.
Limited expression of
ideas.
Poor with little
awareness of
relevance of
issues
Little or no
understanding
of subject
matter is
demonstrated.
Literature
Comprehensive literature
review. Evaluation and
synthesis of source
material to produce an
outstanding contribution.
Excellent independent
secondary research.
Sources are evaluated
and synthesized to
produce an excellent
contribution.
Very good independent
secondary research.
Sources are evaluated and
synthesized to produce a
very good contribution.
Good secondary
research to extend
taught materials.
Evidence of
evaluation of sources,
with some deficiencies
in choice and
synthesis.
Limited secondary
research to extend
taught materials.
Limited evaluation of
sources, deficiencies
in choice and
synthesis.
Little or no
extension of
taught materials.
Poor choice and
synthesis of
materials.
Poor use of
taught
materials. No
synthesis.
Critical analysis
based on
evidence
Standard of critical
analysis – showing
questioning of sources,
understanding of bias,
independence of
thought
Excellent standard of
critical analysis –
excellence in
questioning of sources,
understanding of bias,
independence of
thought
A very good standard of
critical analysis. Sources
are questioned
appropriately, and a very
good understanding of
bias, showing
independence of thought
Critical analysis with
some questioning of
sources,
understanding of bias,
independence of
thought.
Analysis evident but
uncritical. Sources are
not always
questioned, with
limited independence
of thought.
Little or no
analysis.
No valid
analysis.
Structure of
argument,
leading to
conclusion
Well structured,
compelling and
persuasive argument
that leads to a valuable
contribution to the field
of study, paving the way
for future work.
Argument has excellent
structure and
persuasiveness, leading
to very significant insights
and relevant future
work.
Well-structured and
persuasive argument
Insightful conclusion draws
together key issues and
possible future work.
Structured and fairly
convincing argument
leads to conclusion
that summarises key
issues.
Argument has some
structure and
development towards
conclusion with
limitations in summary
of issues.
Argument is
unstructured, no
recognizable
conclusion.
No evidence of
argument or
conclusion.