University of Technology Sydney

21877 Strategic and Sustainable Procurement Management

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Business: Management
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This subject focuses on the management of the procurement of goods and services from a strategic perspective. Topics include procurement as a strategic function; key procurement issues such as outsourcing, sourcing strategies and relationships, total cost of ownership, inventory management and negotiations; and applications of procurement such as procurement of commodities, international and global sourcing, capital procurement, efficient consumer response, services procurement and corporate social responsibility and e-procurement and contract management. The concepts and strategies taught in the subject enable the students to strategise the organisations' procurement practices in an effective and efficient manner to gain competitive advantage.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
1. Appraise the strategic nature of the procurement function in organisations
2. Evaluate the impact of a broad range of influences acting on the design and management of the procurement function in a local and global context
3. Apply innovative technologies and techniques related to the procurement function
4. Design efficient and effective procurement systems to solve complex strategic procurement problems

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the following program learning objectives:

  • Interact with colleagues and stakeholders to work effectively in teams and deliver agreed project outcomes (2.2)
  • Evaluate and apply principles of law, ethics, sustainability and Indigenous values as strategic supply chain managers (3.1)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

This subject focuses on the body of knowledge that is specific to the procurement of goods and services. Procurement is an important function in all types of operations and is therefore very relevant to the course. Procurement is being recognized increasingly as a strategic function in organizations. There is significant and expanding use of new technologies, such as radio frequency identification, to reduce procurement costs and provide additional benefits for stakeholders. Issues such as ethical and sustainable practice are becoming more prominent in procurement. This subject content also enables students who are undertaking, or plan to undertake a career in procurement and supply chain management.

This subject aligns with the following graduate attributes:

  • Communication and collaboration
  • Social responsibility and cultural awareness

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject is presented in a seminar format. Classes will engage students in multiple modes of learning (instructor-facilitated learning, games, group discussion, video and paper-based case studies, online learning modules and group development). The learning management system is utilised to share information and encourage interaction between staff and students. Students also use appropriate computer software such as Excel spreadsheet and Word processor to complete assigned tasks. Experiential learning strategies will be used in the deliberation process of the subject materials. Exercises are designed to enable the participants to develop skills in the application of the abstract concepts of this discipline will be used. Instructor facilitated learning is designed to deliver and explain the key concepts and theories to aid students in the completion of these modules. Apply concepts, models, and principles learnt to assigned cases, and to the management, design and development of business value proposition in the procurement through a blended process of experiential, engaging and reflective learning. All students will be provided with the opportunity to receive formative feedback on their performance during the sessions. Other forms of formative and summative assessments and feedback include the use of quizzes, peer review activities and opportunities for self-assessment and reflection. Further feedback will be provided specifically on the progression of technical and professional skills during sessions and in relation to the completion of each of the worksheets and submitted assessment tasks.

Content (topics)

  • Fundamentals of procurement, includes: purchasing objectives, strategic procurement and public sector procurement
  • Key procurement issues, includes: outsourcing, sourcing strategies and relationships, total cost of ownership, inventory management and negotiations
  • Procurement applications, includes: project procurement, procurement of commodities, international and global sourcing, capital procurement, efficient consumer response, services procurement and corporate social responsibility
  • e-Procurement and contract management, includes: e-procurement systems, contract management and performance measurement for procurement
  • Social and ethical Procurement includes: Purchasing social responsibility, determination of supply footprint for social procurement, supplier evaluation for social and environmental sustainability and governance of social and environmental procurement

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Assignment (Individual)

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

3 and 4

This addresses program learning objectives(s):

3.1

Weight: 30%
Length:

3000 words (excluding references)

Criteria:

In this task, you will be assessed according to the following criteria:

  • critically reviewing theoretical concepts on ethical and sustainable procurement
  • using appropriate method and tools for analysis of data
  • accuracy of analysis
  • depth of discussion and
  • clarity of presentation

Assessment task 2: Group Assignment (Group)

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

2 and 4

This addresses program learning objectives(s):

2.2

Weight: 30%
Length:

4000 words (excluding references)

Criteria:

In this task, you will be assessed according to the following criteria:

  • thorough review of theoretical concepts on procurement
  • use of appropriate method and tools for analysis of data
  • accuracy of analysis
  • clarity of presentation
  • interaction with colleagues and engagement of fellows

Assessment task 3: Examination (Individual)

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

1, 2 and 4

Weight: 40%
Length:

The exam duration is 2 hours plus 10 minutes reading time.

Minimum requirements

Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.

Required texts

Available as an ebook from http://catalogue.pearsoned.co.uk/educator/product/Procurement-Principles-Management/9781292016016.page#

Baily, P., Farmer, D., Crocker, B., Jessop, D. and Jones. D. (2015). "Procurement principles and management", 11th Edition. Prentice Hall. Available as an ebook from http://catalogue.pearsoned.co.uk/educator/product/Procurement-Principles-Management/9781292016016.page#

Recommended texts

Gattorna , J. Dynamic Supply Chains (2015) F.T. Publications

The Purchasing Chessboard 2nd ed Springer ISBN 978-1-4614-2220-4

Johnson P. F., Leenders M., Flynn A. (2011), “Purchasing and Supply Management”, 14th Edition, McGraw-Hill

Chuh,C.,Raudebaugh, J., Kromoser, R., Strohmer, M.F.and Triplat, A.

References

Lysons K., Farrington B. (2012), “Purchasing and Supply Chain Management”, 8th Edition, Pearson

O'Brien Johnathan, (2009) "Category Management in Purchasing" Kogan Page Limited.

Booth C. (2010) "Strategic Procurement" Kogan Press Limited.

Baily, P., Farmer, D., Crocker, B., Jessop, D. and Jones. D. (2008). "Procurement principles and management", 10th Edition. Prentice Hall.

Russell R.S. and Taylor B. W. (2011), “Operations Management: Creating Value along the Supply Chain”, 7th Edition, John Wiley & Sons Inc.