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CM T68 - International Logistics Management*

Faculty
Prof. Herbert Kotzab, Assoc. Prof. Günter Prockl
Course Coordinator
Assoc. Prof. Günter Prockl
Prerequisite/progression of the course
This is a CEMS accredited course. It can be followed by master level and exchange students. The course is closed for students already enrolled in the cand.merc. SCM line at CBS. For students not having a basic logistics background, it is recommended to read a logistics textbook before starting this course, e.g. Mangan J./Lalwani C./Butcher T. (2008): Global logistics and supply chain management.
Course content, structure and teaching
An increasing level of internationalization has moved the focus from national to international logistics systems. On the supply side, local or domestic suppliers have been replaced by a complicated pattern of international sourcing. The organization and management of production processes has changed into more flexible and specialized forms. New inter-organizational relationships between firms in vertical systems are emerging. On the demand side international markets have become more important, and many companies are reconfiguring their international logistics systems. International competition has forced companies to be both market/customer oriented and cost effective at the same time. Mass customization, flexibility and time compression are keywords in this development.
Logistics and Supply Chain Management are well-integrated disciplines in the field of business operations. Focusing on the design of various flows (e.g. flows of goods, information and nominal goods) between a point of origin and a point of consumption, logistics helps to solve specific connection problems. Such problems can refer to technical as well as to organizational issues, depending on the level of analysis. The scope of logistics spans the entire set of organizations from the procurement of materials and product components to delivery of the finished product to the end consumer. In an international context this means that sourcing, production and distribution have to take into account differences and similarities between various markets. This includes transport systems, distribution channels, communication systems, competition, and technology.
The aim of the course is to give students knowledge and understanding of the global logistics environment and to enable them to analyze and evaluate alternative ways of organizing and managing international logistics systems. The course will focus on concepts, structures, network relationships and processes in global logistics and supply chain management. The typical problems, which occur in these networks, are challenging potential thesis topics of theoretical and practical interest. Supply Chains and logistics networks pose transaction cost, resource allocation, network design and flow optimization decisions.
Some of the central issues of the course are:
- The concepts of logistics and supply chain management
- Structuring the global supply chain
- Inter-organizational relationships in the global supply chain
- Development of global supplier strategies and networks
- Logistics information systems and standard applications
- Third party logistics
- Logistics excellence as a competitive strategy
The course's development of personal competences
Group discussions, student presentations, analytical skills in terms of system thinking
Learning Objectives
Upon course completion, the individual student should be able to demonstrate knowledge on the supply chain function, activities and processes in a global environment, while at the same time being able to relate these to broader supply chain design and management issues which bind the logistics function and supply chain organization together.
The goals of this course in relation to what the students will achieve on completion are that students:
- can identify the important flows constituting logistics in an international environment
- can recognise specific problems in assuming a supply chain perspective to managing international logistics problems, both at strategic and operational levels
- will be able to specify the most important design criteria for international logistics systems
- can identify and specify the essential components and differences between design and management issues in supply chain logistics systems
- are well versed in the most common logistics and SCM terminology
- are aware of the most prominent dilemmas posed in SCM
Presenting justifiable solutions to international logistics problems shall provide additional value to the results that students seek to obtain through the final examination. Finally, students should be able to relate and apply supply chain/logistics theory to understand and possibly provide solution/s to the posed problem.
Type of examination, exam aids and assessment
Individual project exam, 15 A4-pages, student is not entitled to supervision
Recommended literature
Reference book –
Skjøtt-Larsen, T., Schary, P.B., Mikkola, J.H. and Kotzab, H. (2007), Managing the Global Supply Chain, 3rd edition. Copenhagen Business School Press, Copenhagen 2007.
Articles –
  • Nelson, P. T. & Toledano, G. (1979): Challenges for International Logistics Management, Journal of Business Logistics, Vol. 01, No. 2, pp. 1-21.
  • Mentzer, John; Stank, Theodore; Esper, Terry: Supply Chain Management and its Relation­ship to Logistics, Marketing, Production, and Operations Management, in: Journal of Business Logistics, 29(2008)1, S. 31-46.
  • Halldorsson, Arni; Kotzab, Herbert et al.: Complementary theories to supply chain management, in: Journal of Supply Chain Management, 12(2007)4, S. 284-296.
  • Lee, Hau: The Triple-A Supply Chain, in: Harvard Business Review, 82(2004)10, S. 102-112.
  • Kilgore, Mike; Joseph, Abraham; Metersky, Jeff: The Logistical Challenges of Doing Bu­siness in India, in: Supply Chain Mana­gement Review, 11(2007)7, S. 36-43.
  • Da Silveira, Giovanni; Borenstein, Denis; Fogliatto, Flavio: Mass customization: Liter­a­ture review and research directions, in: Inter­national Journal of Production Economics, 72(2001), S. 1-13.
  • Aitken, James; Christopher, Martin; Towill, Denis: Understanding, Implementing and Exploiting Agility and Leannes, in: Interna­tional Journal of Logistics: Research and Applications, 5(2002)1, S. 59-74.
  • Henderson, Jeffrey; Dicken, Peter; Hess, Martin; Coe, Neil; Yeung, Wai-Chung: Global production networks and the analysis of eco­no­mic development, in: Review of Inter­natio­nal Political Economy, 9(2002)3, S. 436-464.
  • Frazier, Gary L.: Organizing and Managing Channels of Distribution, in: Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 27(1999)2, S. 226-240.
  • Jiang, B. & Prater, E. (2002): Distribution and Logistics Development in China, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, Vol. 32, No. 9, pp. 783-799.
    Kotabe, M.; Murray, J. Y: Global sourcing strategy and sustainable competitive advantage, in: Industrial Marketing Management, 33(2004)1, S. 7-14.
  • Trent, R. & Monczka, M.: Understanding integrated global sourcing, in: International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, 33(2003)7, S. 607-629.
  • Sanders, Nada R.; Locke, Art; Moore, Curtis B.; Autry, Chad: A Multidimensional Frame­work for Understanding Outsourcing Arrange­ment, in: Journal of Supply Chain Manage­ment: A Global Review of Purchasing & Supply, 43(2007)4, S. 3-15.
  • Lemoine, W.; Danaes, L.: Globalisation stra­tegies and business organisation of a network of logistics service providers, in: In­ternational Journal of Physical Distribution & Lo­gistics Management, 33(2003)3, S. 209-229.
  • Carter, Craig; Rogers, Dale: A framework of sustainable supply chain management: moving toward new theory, in: International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 38(2008)5, S. 360-387.
  • Wikner, Joakim; Ou, Tang: A structural framework for closed-loop supply chains, in: International Journal of Logistics Management, 19(2008)3, S. 343-366.
Other
The course includes dialogue lectures, case discussions, in-class assignments and guest speakers from the industry

Last updated by Electives Secretariat 18/08/2010