210712 Supply Chain Management Capstone

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

Requisite(s): 48 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C04446 Master of Supply ChaManagement

Description

The capstone project is a multifaceted assignment that serves as a culminating academic and intellectual experience for learners towards the end of their qualification. It requires learners to synthesize and demonstrate supply chain management knowledge and skills learned throughout the program as they apply to a real-world or industry problem. As learners deep dive into resolving a substantial practical issue or identifying an innovative opportunity in the supply chain domain, they transform into well-prepared and well-rounded graduates. Ultimately, a self-directed industry problem approached independently by learners where they reflect critically on theory and professional practice to identify a supply chain problem, develop a research question, analyse literature and data, formulate findings, and provide effective solutions that meet stakeholder needs.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

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

1.	Identify opportunities and formulate responses to solve contemporary supply chain issues/opportunities
2.	Critically analyse literature, theories and data to generate grounded solutions to supply chain issues and impactful findings that lead to professional practice
3.	Recommend suitable approaches including technological options and evidence-based solutions to identify new opportunities and resolve supply chain issues
4.	Communicate theoretical findings and managerial implications to supply chain stakeholders through the effective use of oral and written communication strategies

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

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

Apply critical thinking and advanced analytical skills to identify opportunities and develop innovative solutions that respond to community and business needs within a supply chain management context (1.1)
Integrate advanced knowledge of complex supply chain management concepts with technical and commercial capabilities to lead professional practice effectively in operations and supply chain management across domains (4.1)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

This supply chain capstone subject is designed to bridge a formal course of learning with graduate career outcomes. It supports learners to develop professional identities as workplace leaders and problem solvers, equipped for rapidly changing, digitally disrupted, agile professional workplaces dominated by supply chains either as focal or participating firms as an integral component of another focal firm’s supply chain. Through this subject, learners will learn to identify supply chain research problems and apply qualitative and/or quantitative tools and methods learned during the course of the program to solve complex problems and/or opportunities with an aim to design an ethical, sustainable and inclusive supply chain. Moreover, learners will be ready to investigate contemporary supply chain issues and apply advanced tools and methods for effective and creative problem solving through intellectual rigour and critical reflections underpinned by professional and technical competencies.

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

Intellectual rigour and innovative problem solving
Professional and technical competence

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 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 the academic and industry literature and analyse supply chain research topics in a particular domain.
By conducting self-paced study, learners contribute to the discussions on supply chain research topics. 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 their performance outcomes via assessments.

Content (topics)

Identifying practical supply chain problems and/or opportunities
Developing the research aim and research questions to be investigated, and research alignment with industry practices
Academically ground a supply chain problem/opportunity in the literature
Sourcing, analysing and critiquing data to solve supply chain problem/opportunity(s) identified
Structuring reports for output, outcome and social, environmental and economic impact
Providing evidence for theoretical contributions made and managerial implications and recommendations for industry as learners solve supply chain problems

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Thematic Analysis (Individual)

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 2
Weight:	20%
Length:	500 words
Criteria:	Identify articles for the chosen topic clearly articulating the research themes, rationale of the articles chosen, and authors contribution, which are clearly summarised and communicated For each chosen article, briefly describe its methodology, experimental design, validity of results, then critique to expose its strengths and weaknesses Explain theoretical interpretations, practical applications, implications, and logical directions for future research which helps you to narrow in your research proposal and identify research gap for assessment 2

Assessment task 2: Research proposal (Individual)

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 3 and 4 This addresses program learning objectives(s): 1.1
Weight:	20%
Length:	750 words max, excluding references
Criteria:	Demonstration of critical thinking and advanced analytical skills in finalising the problem/opportunity identified evidenced by research Discussion of background, significance and adversarial impact that this identified problem/lack of opportunity is having on the supply chain performance Coherent communication and clarity of the report

Assessment task 3: Research project analysis report and presentation (Individual)

Intent:	Report (30%) Presentation (20%)
Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 2, 3 and 4 This addresses program learning objectives(s): 4.1
Weight:	50%
Length:	1000 words max, excluding references 5-minute recorded video presentation
Criteria:	Depth and rigor of analysis to answer the research question in developing an innovative solution and to help achieve research objectives/outcomes Demonstration of skilled application of qualitative and/or quantitative tools and methods learned throughout the program in solving the problem and/or addressing the research opportunity Succinct analysis of results, interpretation of findings and synthesis of recommendations Coherent communication and clarity of the report Demonstration of creativity and evidence of advanced knowledge and demonstrable effort for the video presentation pitch Clarity of oral communication and demonstrable effort to influence the audience through video presentation means

Assessment task 4: Critical Reflection (Individual)

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3
Weight:	10%
Length:	400 words max
Criteria:	Depth and rigor of critical reflection analysis based on learner’s experience of this capstone project and overall learning from the entire program Evaluation of impact on learner’s self-development and justification of how they plan to apply the course learnings for future enhancements

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.