Sustainability poses a considerable challenge to global supply chains, which are inherently complex and involve many partners. This module explores the concept of being sustainable in a supply chain context: both in internal processes and decisions, but also in the wider supply network considering the role of responsible procurement strategy. The concept of triple bottom line, which considers the financial, social, and environmental effect of business, is explored before turning to how to manage the immediate and eventual environmental effects of products and processes associated with converting raw materials into final products. Therefore, lifecycle management is studied and sustainable strategies and practices across core supply chain activities, including procurement, production; logistics, packaging, warehousing, and distribution. Transportation/logistics is often seen one of the most significant factors in environmental sustainability. Hence, transport mode, planning and routing processes are evaluated in the supply chain context. There is practical consideration of the effect of transport mode decisions on: cost, speed, convenience, and environment. Organisations and supply chains must respond to the pressures for environmental sustainability as corporate social responsibility and legislation begin to take hold. There is focus on how environmental impact will need to be monitored, as well as, more proactive practices such as the recycling, reclamation, remanufacturing and reverse logistics are being adopted. Closed loop supply chains and the associated activities of integrated waste management and reverse logistics are explored. The module also draws on the contextual issues, including: regulatory and legal frameworks, European and Global UN agreements, which continue to exert increasing pressure on supply chains to manage and improve environment impact. Consideration and application of carbon management ideas is also discussed. Overall, the module seeks to provide a contemporary view of sustainability and the future implications for managing supply chains.
View the full module definitionIn today’s international marketplace, organisations are using all available resources and processes to create a sustainable advantage. This module will help you develop a global mindset to manage complex operations across national borders. Organisations are under considerable pressure to transform multiple resources from worldwide supply chains into products and services. This module brings together a range of service and manufacturing principles and philosophies to help you build a blended, global approach to operations management. Important concepts such as logistics, managing performance across borders, process design, procurement, global HRM and stakeholder management are discussed and will help you understand how organisations can use their operations management to develop strategic competitive advantage within their market.
View the full module definitionEntering third level education is exciting; but it can also be a daunting experience. At ARU, we want all students to make the most of the opportunities Higher Education provides, so they reach their potential, become lifelong learners and find fulfilling careers. However, we appreciate that the shift from secondary education, or a return to formal education is, in itself, quite a journey. This module is designed to ease that transition. You will be enrolled on it as soon as you receive an offer from ARU so you can begin to learn about university life before your course starts. Through Into ARU, you will explore a virtual land modelled around ARU values: Courage, Innovation, Community, Integrity, Responsibility, and Ambition. This innovative module is designed as a game, where students collect knowledge and various complete mini tasks. You will proceed at your own pace, though we expect all students to have completed their Into ARU exploration by week 6. Students who, for whatever reason, are unable to complete by that date, will be signposted to existing services so that we can be confident that they are supported.
View the full module definitionSupply chain management is a major strategic concern for organisations, it is often stated that individual organisations no longer compete, but that the impetus of competition has shifted to supply chains/networks. A number of strategic philosophies and techniques are explored on the module that focuses on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of supply chain flow. This module highlights how the ever-demanding customer creates a need for managing the network from raw materials to end customer across organisational interfaces. Therefore, supply chain networks rely on effective management of relationships and outsourcing arrangements. Supply chains can be fragile due to the participants and external risks, risk management strategies are applied within the module. Any logistics/supply chain strategy has to make trade-offs in terms of cost, quality, flexibility, dependability and time. These strategic priorities are explored in an intensive supply chain simulation game. The game simulates a product supply chain, including necessary functions produces results and statistics about the supply chain that you must improve over the course of the trimester. The overall aim is to provide an insight into the system consequences of decisions, focusing on operational decisions, e.g. procurement, manufacturing, distribution, transport etc. Here you'll work in teams, to represent the management of the company, developing a strategy and work together to implement their decisions. The impetus is on real-life practice and the impetus here is on learning by doing building on team-work, communication, analytical, project management, time management, and presentation skills.
View the full module definitionGlobal megatrends such as globalisation, digitisation, demographic changes, and technological changes are impacting international business strategy in the 21st century. This module has been designed to enable you to gain a comprehensive understanding of the major challenges and opportunities associated with the formulation and implementation of contemporary international business strategies. You'll be encouraged to interrogate the contextual, contemporary, political, technological, and economic concepts and theories that shape international business strategy. You'll gain the skills to think critically and consider how to address global ‘wicked problems’ that are not amenable to off-the-shelf solutions. This module will examine how global companies negotiate key strategic issues in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous contexts. You'll be ready to comprehend and respond to global challenges in international strategic management; prepare for a career in international and multinational companies, or NGOs and SMEs with an international outlook; and focus on sustainability and ethics in marketing, human resources management or operations management and global sourcing departments.
View the full module definitionThis major project module allows you to engage in a substantial piece of individual primary and/or secondary research focussed on a topic relevant to your business degree award and specialist subject area under the supervision and guidance of a member of academic staff. This module requires you to develop your chosen topic into a specific project under the guidance of a supervisor. Your supervisor will discuss with you contemporary research problems and issues based on your research and practice, and you'll be required to conduct literature reviews, evaluate and critically appraise a range of information, investigate and adopt suitable theoretical frameworks, research methodologies and methods, and process and analyse data to produce a coherent and justified solution to the problem(s) identified. Throughout the module your supervisor will support you in terms of content and skills development so that you can work semi-autonomously on your individual research project. This is achieved through regular supervisory meetings throughout the year, which will allow for individual discussion of the tasks that will have to be completed in order to develop the project smoothly. You'll receive formative and constructive feedback from your supervisor in order progress your research to a conclusion. Attendance at meetings and engagement with the proposed tasks are essential to successful completion of the project.
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