Sustainability in Logistics & Operations Management 772000 The assignment will be assessed via a written report (100% of the marks of the module). You are required to write a report with a word count of 4,000 words (excluding your list of references and any appendices). Awareness of sustainability issues is growing among businesses, customers, communities and legislators. As a result, sustainability has become 2 increasingly important for many companies in recent years, forcing changes to logistics and operations. New policies, new business models, technologies and investments have been the result. How have logistics and operations management changed? In your report you are required to answer All three sections, A, B and C. You are expected to use company examples to support your essay. These companies could be manufacturing, retail or services. A) Identify only ONE particular sustainability issue (examples from the module such as Procurement, Transportation, Circular Economy, etc.). Please refer to the module material for explanation of a sustainability issue. B) Discuss the process of adaptation as companies alter their strategies in response to sustainability concerns. Use at least THREE of the topics introduced in class in this part of your report: for example, themes covered in the lectures include sustainable warehousing, circular economy, green product design, responsible procurement, etc. Your report must address the potential costs and benefits of adaptation while pursuing their Logistics and Operations strategies. C) Using any TWO examples of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals, critically discuss how companies are adopting these goals in support of their management practices whilst caring out logistics operations. For critical argument, ALL selected SDGs, must be mapped against at least One for each of five the UN’s Blueprint for business leadership guiding questions found here: https://blueprint.unglobalcompact.org/sdgs/sdg01/ Sources and References It is important for you to conduct a comprehensive literature review of your chosen topics and industry. You should include sources such as peerreviewed academic articles, academic texts, news articles, industry case studies and reputable web resources. The literature should be used to support your statements. Additional guidance: A good report will be well formatted and presented using an academic style of English. Please do not simply describe changes that have taken place, but provide some insights into the possible thinking behind, and justification of, changing strategies, processes, roles and responsibilities. Addressing programme competencies 1, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 This assignment tests whether you have achieved the Programme competencies of the module: 3 PCs Programme Competency Statement PC 1 Develop and apply business management theories, processes, best practice, and tactics to deliver transformational change in a real-world business context PC 6 Demonstrate global-mindedness and inter-cultural sensitivity and show a heightened critical appreciation of diversity and inclusivity in business decision-making in cross cultural settings. PC 8 Collect, critically analyse, and evaluate complex data and deploy advanced and established business research and enquiry techniques relevant to contemporary business requirements PC 9 Design and develop advanced specialist business projects, activities and plans, mirroring or based on real-world management practice. PC 10 Practice moral and ethical dimensions of responsible business management practices and corporate social responsibility and comply with professional values and standards. PC 11 Identify, develop and deploy socially responsible business management practices to deliver sustainable economic, social and environmental outcomes for business and society. PC 12 Demonstrate integrated and synthesised understanding of the global dimensions of business environment and intercultural mix in a local and international context. PC 13 Practice responsible procurement to create sustainable value and protect the people and environments across the whole supply chain and supply network. eSubmission is the approved method for your HUBS programme of study. You must hand in your assessed Assignment(s), for all modules that you are taking during the Academic Year using the Canvas system. Submission of a printed copy is NOT allowed. You should submit via the Assignments menu item on the relevant module Canvas site. Assignments must be submitted by the date and time stipulated. Deadlines will be strictly adhered to. Students submitting late, and who do not have mitigating circumstances approved by the Mitigating Circumstances Panel, will be subject to penalties for late submission as specified by the University. Grading Descriptors guidance 1, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Weighting Clarity and completeness of the selected global sustainability issue 1,6,8,9,13 20/100 Discussion of at least three approaches to company’s strategy arising as a result of sustainability concerns, each based upon logistics and operations management themes introduced during the module, addressing costs and benefits of adaptation. 10,11,9,13 45/100 4 Using any TWO examples of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals, critically discuss how companies are adopting these goals in support of their management practices whilst caring out logistics operations. 1,4,8,9,13 25/100 Clarity of work in terms of structure, referencing, content and development of argument; academic tone and persuasiveness with which findings and/or recommendations are presented. 1,6,8,10,13 10/100 Total 100 marks available eSubmission is the approved method for your HUBS programme of study. You must hand in your assessed Assignment(s), for all modules that you are taking during the academic year using the Canvas system. Submission of a printed copy is NOT allowed. You should submit via the Assignments menu item on the relevant module Canvas site. Assignments must be submitted by the date and time stipulated. Deadlines will be strictly adhered to. Students submitting late, and who do not have mitigating circumstances approved by the Mitigating Circumstances Panel, will be subject to penalties for late submission specified by the University. Please note that Saturday and Sunday are treated as “working days” for the purposes of the late submission policy. Additional Guidance Use the allowance of 4,000 words in proportion to the allocation of marks, as detailed above. Keep your discussion relevant to the module topic: sustainable logistics and operations management. Try to move beyond the merely descriptive (“what is”) to explore “why”, “what next” and similar questions that would be of greater interest to practitioners. Remember that a company’s own reporting may not be the best source of unbiased information: you will need to demonstrate critical thinking and seek corroboration from independent sources rather than simply allowing a company to “talk about itself” unchallenged. In “Part B”, look at risks or historical failures that illustrate the principles we have covered during the lectures and workshops. You should be able to discuss problems such as failing to operate at the right level of capacity, high incidence of defects, the generation of large amounts of waste, etc. Discuss three in depth rather than attempting to cover all themes. Construct reasoned, unbiased and well-evidenced arguments in an academic rather than conversational or journalistic tone. Pay attention to grammar, spelling, structure and the Harvard system of referencing. Show evidence of clear and original thinking, plus diligent research. Where you make use of the ideas of others, you must cite the original source. If you wish to use their words, be sure to indicate the extent of the quoted material clearly – and then add some analysis of your own, e.g. what does the quote mean for the purposes of your submission.
Identify only ONE particular sustainability issue (examples from the module such as Procurement, Transportation, Circular Economy, etc.). Please refer to the module material for explanation of a sustainability issue. B) Discuss the process of adaptation as companies alter their strategies in response to sustainability concerns. Use at least THREE of the topics introduced
