Programme: Various Module Code: MO0256 Kaplan March intakes Module Title: Transport & Inventory Management Distributed on: 09/2016 Submission Time and Date: Please do not enter a date in this box. Please advise the relevant programme office of the preferred week for hand in. Word Limit: 2500 +/- 10% Weighting This coursework accounts for 100% of the total mark for this module Submission of Assessment It is your responsibility to ensure that your assignment arrives before the submission deadline. See the University policy on late submission of work (the relevant extract is set out below). Electronic Management of Assessment (EMA): Please note if your assignment is submitted electronically it will be submitted online via Turnitin by the given deadline. You will find a Turnitin link on the module’s eLP site. Instructions on Assessment: Below are two question topics pertinent to this module; you are instructed to answer BOTH using the resources available to you in the form of a referenced report. This report will articulate your knowledge of the module subject. The report is to be concise and clear in its meanings and be 2500 words +/-10%. Each answer to the question topic should be broadly the same length. Remember you must include an executive summary of around 200 words in length to summarise the whole report, which will count towards your total word count. Topic 1: Transport: there is a growing demand to increase resource utilisation and inter-modality during transport phases in ways which challenge established transport strategies. Choose a company to, identify and explain its intermodal choice; examine how this company can increase the inter-modality in its supply chains, for some or all of its product categories; and critically evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the new intermodal choice. You MUST provide relevant examples (e.g. logistics / transport companies) from the literature sources to support your response. You are recommended to use diagrams and flow charts to illustrate and underpin your analysis. This question carries 45% of the marks. Topic 2: Warehouses: whether they are classed as distribution centres, regional distribution centres, warehouses or hubs, perform a variety of different roles. Strategic and operational factors impact upon the layout and effectiveness and efficiency of warehouse operations throughout the supply chain. Select a company of your own choice and examine how this company manages its warehouses and propose a warehouse design layout and order picking principles to suit the company’s strategic and operational factors. You are also required to critically evaluate how the layout design and order picking principles could be influenced by product inventory types, utilisation of space, stock movement, technology and the location of picking areas. You MUST provide various examples from the literature sources to support your evaluation. You are recommended to use diagrams and flow charts to illustrate and underpin your analysis. This question carries 45% of the marks. The remaining 10% of the marks are awarded for executive summary, presentation, grammar, style, and layout. It is not a requirement, however, it is completely acceptable to use the same company for both topics. Please answer these two topics separately under numbered headings/sub-headings and use academic theories and examples to support your discussions. You are expected to use all material from lectures, seminars and also use an appropriate number of academic resources including text books and peer reviewed academic journal papers from NORA and other databases. Your need to include a title page, a page for the table of contents and a separate page for the executive summary. You may also include an appendix for relevant supporting material, but your main arguments must be included in the body of the report. For more details of report writing, you can refer to: http://elp.northumbria.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/library/Library%20Content/webfiles/learningobjects/rlo/Report%20writing/index.htm References To reflect the level of critical analysis and evaluation required at L5, the individual submission should NOT contain less than 15 references per topic drawn from the academic literature, journals, trade magazines, professional institutes, company reports, trade bodies etc. Outcomes Assessed: The course work is designed to enable the student to demonstrate their understanding of, and ability to apply, all learning outcomes listed within the learning, teaching and assessment plan. Assessment Activities: Each student must write, and submit a referenced report addressing the tasks identified for the submission above. Criteria: The course work will be assessed using the following criteria: 1. The degree to which the individual student has understood each of the requirements, and provided comprehensive answers which cover all the learning outcomes and requirements. 2. The use of references and quotations to add to the academic rigor. The student is reminded of both the number of and type of reference material clearly stated above. 3. The degree to which the individual student answers using theoretical models and concepts identified throughout the course. The student should be able to demonstrate where these can be applied in a supply network design environment, whilst retaining strong supply chain relevance. Layout: Font type: Arial Font size: 11 Line spacing: 1.5 Important note about ARNA regulations The regulations specify that students must complete every assessment component contributing to the modules on their programme. This applies to all forms of assessment as defined in the module descriptor. Please note that: • if any assessment component is not completed, students will be failed in the module even if the module pass mark has been achieved; • if the requirements for referral specified in section 5 of ARNA1 are met, a resit opportunity will be given; • if unable to complete an assessment component because of extenuating circumstances, students should follow the procedure described in the Student Guide to Extenuating Circumstances1. This change was approved by Academic Board on 12 October 2009 in consultation with the Students’ Union. Students should consult their Programme Leader or Guidance Tutor if they have any queries. Independent advice and support is also available from the Students’ Union Advice & Representation Centre ([email protected]) or from a student adviser in Student Services. 1ARNA and the Student Guide to Extenuating Circumstances Affecting Assessed Work are available from http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/sd/central/ar/lts/assess/assproc/assdocstud/ Word limits and penalties for assignments If the assignment is within +/-10% of the stated word limit no penalty will apply. The word count is to be declared on the title page of your assignment and the assignment cover sheet. The word count does not include: • Title and Contents page • Reference list • Appendices • Appropriate tables, figures and illustrations • Glossary • Bibliography • Quotes from interviews and focus groups. Please note, in text citations [e.g. (Smith, 2011)] and direct secondary quotations [e.g. “dib-dab nonsense analysis” (Smith, 2011 p.123)] are INCLUDED in the word count. If this word count is falsified, students are reminded that under ARNA page 30 Section 3.4 this will be regarded as academic misconduct. If the word limit of the full assignment exceeds the +/-10% limit, 10% of the mark provisionally awarded to the assignment will be deducted. For example: if the assignment is worth 70 marks but is above the word limit by more than 10%, a penalty of 7 marks will be imposed, giving a final mark of 63. Students must retain an electronic copy of this assignment (including ALL appendices) and it must be made available within 24hours of them requesting it be submitted. Note: For those assessments or partial assessments based on calculation, multiple choice etc., marks will be gained on an accumulative basis. In these cases, marks allocated to each section will be made clear. Time limits and penalties for presentations The time allocated for the presentation must be adhered to. At the end of this time, the presentation will be stopped and will be marked based on what has been delivered within the time limit. Submission of Assessment: All assignments must be submitted via the Undergraduate Programme Office. Each assignment must be accompanied by an Assessed Work Form which must be completed in full. The assignment will not be accepted by the Undergraduate Programme Office unless the form is completed correctly. Please see guideline for Electronic Management of Assessment (EMA). Where coursework is submitted without approval, after the published hand-in deadline, the following penalties will apply. For coursework submitted up to 1 working day (24 hours) after the published hand-in deadline without approval, 10% of the total marks available for the assessment (i.e.100%) shall be deducted from the assessment mark. For clarity: a late piece of work that would have scored 65%, 55% or 45% had it been handed in on time will be awarded 55%, 45% or 35% respectively as 10% of the total available marks will have been deducted. The Penalty does not apply to Pass/Fail Modules, i.e. there will be no penalty for late submission if assessments on Pass/Fail are submitted up to 1 working day (24 hours) after the published hand-in deadline. Coursework submitted more than 1 working day (24 hours) after the published hand-in deadline without approval will be regarded as not having been completed. A mark of zero will be awarded for the assessment and the module will be failed, irrespective of the overall module mark. For clarity: if the original hand-in time on working day A is 12noon the 24 hour late submission allowance will end at 12noon on working day B. These provisions apply to all assessments, including those assessed on a Pass/Fail basis. Marked assignments will be returned to students. It is advisable to retain a copy of your assignment for you own records. Your mark will be returned on the Assessed Work Form via the Undergraduate Programme Office. Referencing your work The APA method of referencing uses the author's name and the date of the publication. In-text citations give brief details of the work you are referring to in your text. References are listed at the end of the text in alphabetical order by the author's name. The general format of an electronic journal reference in the APA style is shown below: Coutu, D. (2009). Why Teams Don't Work. Harvard Business Review, 87(5), 98-105. Retrieved 29th April 2012 from EBSCO http://searchebscohost.com Author/s name and initials are listed first, followed by year of publication in brackets. Then there is the title of article and the journal where the article appears, which is in italics. Then state the volume and issue number (in brackets) along with the pages where article can be located. Finally add the date the article was retrieved and then the name of the database, followed by the web address. Wherever possible use the homepage URL rather than the full and extended web address. For further information on why it is important to reference accurately go to the Referencing and Plagiarism topic in Skills Plus available from the Library website: www.northumbria.ac.uk/skillsplus You will find other useful help guides on Skills Plus to help you with the skills involved in writing your assessments and preparing for exams. For further information on the APA style of referencing see the Concise Rules of the APA Style and the APA website http://www.apastyle.org/ Academic Misconduct The Assessment Regulations for Northumbria Awards (ARNA) contain the Regulations and procedures applying to cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct. The full policy is available at: http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/sd/central/ar/qualitysupport/asspolicies/ You are reminded that plagiarism, collusion and other forms of academic misconduct as referred to in the Academic Misconduct procedure of the assessment regulations are taken very seriously by Newcastle Business School. Assignments in which evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct is found may receive a mark of zero. Plagiarism and Cheating Your attention is drawn to the University’s stated position on plagiarism. THE WORK OF OTHERS, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE ASSIGNMENT MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO ITS SOURCE (a full bibliography and/or a list of references must be submitted as prescribed in the assessment brief). Please note that this is intended to be an individual piece of work. Action will be taken where a student is suspected of having cheated or engaged in any dishonest practice. Students are referred to the University regulations on plagiarism and other forms of academic irregularity. Students must not copy or collude with one another or present any information that they themselves have not generated. For further information on Plagiarism, see the Referencing and Plagiarism topic on Skills Plus. www.northumbria.ac.uk/skillsplus Mapping to Programme Goals and Objectives: This assessment will contribute directly to the following Undergraduate programme goals and objectives. (Insert an ‘X’ in boxes where applicable, referring to Undergraduate Programme Specification Appendix X for mapping) 1. Knowledgeable about the theory and practice of international business and management Objectives: Students will be able to: x 1. Acquire knowledge of functional areas of business and management. x 2. Acquire knowledge of specialist areas of business. x 3. Apply their knowledge to business and management contexts. x 4. Conduct contemporary research into business and management. 2. Skilful in the use of professional and managerial techniques and processes Objectives: Students will be able to: 1. Provide evidence of self reflection as a means of informing personal development planning. 2. Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work in a team. x 3. Demonstrate critical thinking skills . x 4. Demonstrate problem solving skills. 3. Aware of ethical issues impacting on business and professional practice Objectives: Students will be able to: 1. Identify an ethical dilemma in a business situation 2. Suggest ethical solutions to this dilemma 4. Employable as graduates Objectives: Students will be able to: x 1. In the context of securing graduate employment demonstrate the skills of self presentation. Assessment Criteria (NBS) General Assessment Criteria Trait 0 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 - 59 60 - 69 70 - 79 80 - 100 Knowledge and Understanding Majority of work is neither relevant nor accurate. Performance shows elements of legitimate content. Legitimate content but relies heavily on the descriptive. Analysis may be unsophisticated. Knowledge base is generally sound and some critical appreciation shown. A maturing ability to relate theory and evidence, concepts and ideas is displayed. Critical appreciation is evident. Impressive knowledge and understanding. Clearly demonstrates critical appreciation. Theory and evidence are invariably related. Excellent knowledge and appreciation for subject. Fastidious eye for detail. Structure and Alignment Often inarticulate and can be incomprehensible. Content is more often than not inappropriate. Work may contain some use of concepts, but is poorly set out and needs an appropriate focus. Analysis usually clear but can lack some clarity of focus. Content is always relevant, generally well focused and organised. Argument or logical reasoning is always relevant and well sustained. Assured ability to challenge received wisdom and to sustain argument or logical reasoning under these terms. Module Specific Assessment Criteria Trait 0 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 - 59 60 - 69 70 - 79 80 - 100 Knowledge and Understanding Majority of work is neither relevant nor accurate. Performance shows some elements of legitimate content but is clearly impacted upon by any number of issues relating to largely insufficient analysis and evaluation of warehousing, transport and inventory management. It is also likely that the work submitted does not address the assignment requirements in both content and structure (see below also). Legitimate content but the work is too descriptive either in relation to Q1, Q2 or both, which impacts upon the level of sophistication of argument and evaluation of warehouse and transport choice / strategy and inventory management. It is unlikely that the work submitted has addressed all of the requirements set of the assignment. Whilst the warehousing / inventory management and transport knowledge base is generally sound and some critical appreciation is evident, there is potential for further development / analysis / critical evaluation. A maturing ability to relate warehousing, transport and inventory management theory and concepts to evidence is displayed. Critical and contextually relevant argument is made in the construction of argument / adoption of both choice and stance. Argument or logical reasoning is always relevant and well sustained in relation to warehousing, transport and inventory management concepts, theory and practical applications in relation to both Q1 & Q2, in ways which are both contextually relevant and underpinned by a thorough literature base, which in likelihood, extends beyond the core requirements of the module. The student exhibits excellent warehousing, transport and inventory subject knowledge and critical appreciation. Further to this there is clear evidence of higher level critical analysis and evaluation of the subject in relation to the requirements of the assignment. A fastidious eye for detail allows the student to develop both depth and breadth of analysis, critical discussion and argument, underpinned by a thorough and contemporary literature base, which significantly extends beyond the core requirements of the module. Structure and Alignment Often inarticulate and can be incomprehensible. Content is more often than not inappropriate in relation to warehousing, inventory management and transport. It is unlikely that the work submitted has addressed all of the requirements set of the assignment. Examples of this could be an insufficient and inappropriate literature base, insufficient description, argument, poor construction and syntax. The work would have clearly benefitted from proof reading and checking prior to submission. Insufficient application and skill in deployment of Harvard method. Work may contain some use of warehousing / transport and inventory management concepts and theory but they lack development and appropriate focus. It is likely that the work submitted has not sufficiently addressed all of the requirements set of the assignment. Examples of this could be an insufficient and inappropriate literature base, insufficient description, argument, poor construction etc. The work would have clearly benefitted from proof reading and checking prior to submission. Deployment of the Harvard method is present although there is room for further development and improvement. Analysis of warehousing, transport and inventory management is clear but would benefit from further evaluation and analysis. An example of this may be a better engagement with a more contextually relevant literature base. Consistent deployment of the Harvard method, although there is room for further development and improvement. Content retains a contextual relevance, underpinned by a good literature base. The work is always relevant and generally well focused and organised, displaying ability by the student identify and discuss differing viewpoints. Good and consistent deployment of the Harvard method, although there is room for further development and improvement. There is clear evidence that the student has addressed all of the requirements of the assignment. The work is always relevant, well focused and organised. It displays further ability by the student to develop and sustain argument in relation to differing concepts and theories extracted from a thorough literature base, which in likelihood, extends beyond the core requirements of the module. Excellent and consistent deployment of the Harvard method. Assured ability to challenge received wisdom and to sustain argument or logical reasoning under these terms, both in support and criticism of theories and concepts, in their relation to ‘real world’ warehousing, transport and inventory management operational scenarios, sizes / scales of development. This is further underpinned by a thorough literature base, which significantly extends beyond the core requirements of the module. Excellent and consistent deployment of the Harvard method. Note: For those assessments or partial assessments based on calculation, multiple choice etc. Marks will be gained on an accumulative basis. In these cases, marks allocated to each section will be made clear. Students must retain an electronic copy of this assignment and it must be made available within 24 hours of them requesting it be submitted.