210710 Operational Procurement and Contract Administration

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
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

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

Description

Businesses need to optimise purchasing functions across their supply chains to secure the required materials, information and resources in the quantity, place, time required and at the best price. Operational procurement and contract administration collectively enable the purchasing of goods and services, contract management, delivery management, and complaints procedures. This subject teaches learners the fundamentals of operational procurement processes and strategies and delivers students an understanding of legal concepts for contract administration when managing relationships across supply networks. Learners develop the skills to evaluate potential legal risks and administer dispute resolution processes. Learners critically analyse procurement and contract issues, whilst identifying and reflecting on relevant ethical implications.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1.	Apply knowledge and skills for operational procurement in supply chain, including in Indigenous contexts
2.	Explain legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements for sustainable and responsible procurement and supply chain management in multidisciplinary domains, including Indigenous domains
3.	Critically reflect on the legal and ethical risks that may impact operational procurement and develop solutions in sustainable procurement management in various markets and domains, including Indigenous domains

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

This subject focuses on the body of knowledge specific to the operational procurement of goods and services and contract administration between different stakeholders – more at the tactical and operational levels. This subject enables students to understand legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements for sustainable and responsible procurement and contract administration in supply chain management in multidisciplinary domains. Moreover, learners will learn legal and ethical risks and develop solutions for operational procurement that will apply to different domains, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous contexts.

This subject contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes:

Intellectual rigour and innovative problem solving

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject is delivered online using a range of resources, self-directed study and live interactive sessions with the academic. Learners engage in the essential content through a variety of formats (lecture slides, notes, webinars, videos, articles, real case studies) online and learner-led dialogue through online discussions and posts, and interactions via Canvas. The teaching and learning strategies have been designed to enable learners to make progress in their achievement and maximise their accomplishment of the learning outcomes. Various teaching and learning strategies adopted are as follows:

Learners will be expected to read all the assigned readings and media articles, research and identify innovative models and effective techniques applicable to operational procurement and contract administration.
By conducting self-paced study, learners contribute to the discussions on legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements for sustainable and responsible procurement and supply chain management. This will enhance learners’ ability to progress successfully throughout the subject and complete all assessment items effectively.
The online sessions will provide opportunities for group activities and discussion, self-assessment, peer review and formative feedback from the subject facilitator. Online collaborative sessions with the facilitator will be conducted at a set time.
Formative and summative feedback will be provided to all learners to support and enhance learner performance outcomes via assessments

Content (topics)

Procurement and purchasing of goods and services
Planning for procurement operations and their challenges, strategies, and processes
Contract management and legal risks
Managing contracts and supplier relationships
Category management, delivery management
Dispute resolution, complaints procedures and ethical implications

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Literary review report (Individual)

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 3
Weight:	40%
Length:	1000 words, excluding references
Criteria:	Depth and rigor of analysis conducted to identify major procurement challenges and their impact on sustainable supply chain performance Evaluation and justification of the viability and appropriateness of strategies to deal with procurement challenges Coherent communication and clarity of the report

Assessment task 2: Contract Administration Report (Individual)

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3
Weight:	45%
Length:	1000 words, excluding references
Criteria:	Depth and rigor of analysis conducted on contract administration in procurement Identify potential issues for implementation of contract administration between different stakeholders Evaluation and justification of legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements for contract administration for procurement and supply chain management Coherent communication and clarity of the report

Assessment task 3: Reflective Essay (Individual)

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3
Weight:	15%
Length:	500 words, excluding references
Criteria:	Critically reflect on strategies used to solve issues in contract administration and how this can be applied to various markets and domains, including Indigenous domains Coherent communication and clarity of the report

Minimum requirements

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

Required texts

There is no prescribed textbook required.

References

Resources from various sources will be used throughout the course.