Critically assess the key factors influencing globalisation
Faculty of Business and Society
Module Handbook

Globalisation of Logistics & SCM (PS4S34)
Full-TIME
Year 2015 / 2016
Module Title
Globalisation of Logistics & SCM (PS4S34)
Welcome to the Module
Hi and welcome to the Globalisation of Logistics & SCM module as part of your MSc programme. My name is Chris Lee and I will be your module leader and tutor for this module over the next 8 weeks. I will be assisted in one part of the module by Prof. Stuart Cole.

Professor Cole will deliver his lecture and provide materials concerning his projects, i.e. TrawsCymru and Bwcabus. These projects are a revolutionary new approach to rural public transport providing local internal journeys, which also impact regional, national and international connectivity. Prof. Cole’s lecture and material will therefore support CW2.

So why is studying this module such an important part of your Master’s programme?

Today there is still much happening in the world, which makes this module arguably very relevant, interesting and also in some parts very emotive too. Economic, political and culturally issues most especially have been headline news, e.g. issues concerning Russia and the Ukraine, Syria and the refugees flooding into Europe, plus the tragedy in Tunisia in 2015. These complex incidents have not only triggered large international economic, political and cultural turmoil and logistical manoeuvres in military supply chains, but also in humanitarian ones too.

Of course the continual economic issues from the so-called ‘banking crisis’ that appears to affect all countries and trading blocs globally, such as in Europe and in smaller countries like Greece, but also within the stronger economies in Europe too, plus the rest of the G20 nations.

Even what’s regarded as the two largest global economies, i.e. the USA and China have struggled recently. The USA has experienced some serious debt and credit issues and China, arguably the world’s fastest growing economy, is not immune and is now reporting high increases in economic pressures including inflation caused by higher wage demands, which Western economies have been used to for over half a century or more. This is now impacting on both countries growth prospects and competitiveness.

Germany which is typically reported as the strongest economy in the EU zone headed back into recession in 2015. The Banks are still in and out of the news and for some of their dubious and unethical operations, but paradoxically perhaps they hold the key to a faster global recovery? Look at Volkswagen (VW) recently in the USA. A German MNE, whose environmental issues around emissions emerged in the USA, but this has been global news with probably much wider global impacts once the whole story unravels of the next couple of months. So watch this story closely.

Technological advances are still moving at a rapid pace, making many organisations organisational and product life-cycles in many sectors obsolete if they don’t innovate to proliferate themselves and adapt quickly and move with the times.

There have also been over the last couple of years, some key environmental issues, disasters and natural phenomena which has had a global impact. Throughout the first decade of the new millennium we have seen numerous natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunami’s, hurricanes, the Icelandic ash-cloud, to name only a few. All of which have had global impacts both humanitarian and also for the operations of businesses, small and large. Despite these, SMEs, MNEs and other organisations still look to locate their operations in these ‘risky’ regions and set up supply chains there. This exerts strain on their logistics and supply chains testing their robustness, resilience and vulnerability.

All of these macro-environmental factors (i.e. PESTEL issues), seem to manifest in one or another region, but ripple across the world, affecting the connectivity and interdependencies of countries, organisations and people globally. However, with new developing economies emerging constantly and also ‘new’ trading blocs such as “BRIC” (i.e. Brazil, Russia, India & China) and the “Mint countries” (i.e. Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey). These blocs are all being billed as “the new and emerging economic giants”. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25548060

Events such as those mentioned above and other’s such as the Berlin Wall (the 25th anniversary is in November 2014); both Gulf War conflicts’; 9/11; the emergence of Africa and South Africa as trading blocs, these are all examples that illustrate some of George Yips’ work on Globalisation in 1989 as well as the traditional “International Trade Theories”. Arguably the global landscape has changed drastically since Yip’s original work in 1989, making the idea of globalisation very different today in 2015/16? Or is it that different?

Most recently, the notion of and issues around global sustainable development in the form of the ‘triple bottom-line’ (i.e. economically, socially and environmentally), ‘responsible business practices’ and ‘business continuity’, has emerged rapidly. It seems that many of the causes and effects of this phenomena, stems from logistics and supply chains activities, most especially around oil and fluctuating oil prices, plus the impacts of CO2 emissions from the various logistics and transport modes. The drive for responsible business activities including logistics and supply chains appears to impact upon the design of CSR and ethics in many MNEs and other organisations strategies and policies.

For me, these are some of the factors which make globalisation and global supply chains such an interesting and strategically important area to study and it is these types of issues that this module concerns itself with. It attempts to identify and trace the key theories and concepts that underpin what is currently happening in the world today and also in local and global business operations being practiced by all types of organisations.
Educational aims of the Module
1. To identify the key drivers and trends that are increasing the globalisation of industries, markets and sectors, including the role of the SME;
2. To explore the structure and management of a global and international logistics and supply networks;
3. To examine the main activities involved in global and international logistics and supply chain management.

Intended Learning Outcomes
1. Analyse and critically evaluate the key drivers influencing globalisation;

2. Critically evaluate the development and management of the logistics function and the systems involved in the global transportation of goods, their modal split and comparative strengths and weaknesses.

Module requirements and delivery
The modules requirements are to meet the aims and learning outcomes. This criteria will be met through and teaching and learning strategy and coursework that is designed for students to critically analyse and evaluate for example, the traditional discourse and constituents of globalisation principles and theory, International trade theory, macro-economic theory, strategic management, global transport, logistics and supply chain management, the principles, warehousing and distribution management and export and import management.

The assessment is through coursework only and will be in the form of a written assignment(s) constituting 6,000 words maximum. The weight of the assessment(s) will be 100%. This coursework is designed to critically assess the key drivers influencing globalisation and identify and evaluate the logistics function. The coursework will also critically assess the systems involved in the transportation of goods and their modal split.

The teaching and learning strategy (i.e. the delivery), will be in the form of a series of appropriately themed lectures & tutorials. Please refer to the indicative session plan below, e.g. 2 hour lectures x 8 weeks, plus 3 hour Tutorials x 8 weeks.

Indicative Lecture & Session Plan – Full-time 2015/16
LECTURE PROGRAMME LECTURE WORKSHOP PROGRAMME
Sessions THEME TOPICS COVERED TUTORIAL ACTIVITY
Session 1
Week 12
28 Sept
2015
Lecture 1 & 2 Engage with Blended Learning material on module Bb site

Introduction to Globalisation & International trade Familiarisation with Bb site and engagement with sessions : –
• Module introduction & Getting Started

• Introduction to Globalisation, logistics, supply chain & transport – L1

• Introduction to the Bb Site, assignment
Macro Economics – L2
Session 2
Week 13
5th Oct 2015
Lectures 1, 1a, 2 & 3

Total Global Strategy (1)
• “A Total Global strategy” (L1A)

The International Trade Theories – L3
Session 3
Week 14
12 Oct 2015
Lectures
3, 5, 6 & 7 Total Global Strategy (2) • The Drivers (L4), Benefits, Drawbacks & Myths of globalisation (L5)

• The determinants of national advantage – “Porter’s Diamond” (L6) The Coca Cola Case Study

The Italian Tile Industry Case Study
Session 4
Week 15
19 Oct 2015
Lectures 8 & 9 Strategic Aspects of Globalisation • Strategic Outsourcing & Globalisation (L8) (Nike)
• The determinants of Global Culture (L9) Strategic management –strategy formulation & structure (L7)
Case Study: “Hold the
pork please”

Session 5
Week 16
26 Oct 2015

Lectures
10, 10a, 11 & 12 Sustainable Development

Global Supply Chains • The principles of Logistics & SCM
• (L10 & 10A)
• What is Sustainability? (L11)
• Reverse Logistics (L12) Case Study: Tesco

Case Study – “Were you Dreaming of a green Christmas”?
Session 6
Week 17
02 Nov 2015
Lectures 13 & 14 Fright Transport, Modal Choice & Vehicle Selection in Logistics

Prof. Stuart Cole Lecture
• Modal Choice and Inter-modal choice (L13)
• Total distribution costs & Trade-off (L14) Impacts & Trade-offs of Model Selection
Session 7
Week 18
09 Nov 2015
Lectures 15 & 16 An Integrated Logistics & Supply Chain Strategy

Warehousing & Distribution Management
• An Integrated Logistics strategy (L15)

• The principles of warehousing and Distribution Centres
Types of warehouses (L16) Primary & Service Response Logistics Activities
Session 8
Week 19
16 Nov 2015

Lectures 17 & 18
The Export Order Process
Payment & INCOTERMS 2010
Assignment guidelines • What is the Export order Process
• Payment & INCOTERMS 2010

Typical Problems within the Export Order Process
Assignment Revision
IN-COURSE ASSESSMENT
NATURE &
TITLE
CW 1 – To Critically assess the key factors influencing globalisation
CW 2 – To critically assess the systems involved in the global supply chain and the transportation of goods and services and their modal split.
Planned Issue CW 1 & 2 will be uploaded to Blackboard / Issued by Session 1 Week (28 September 2015)

Planned
Submission CW 1 – 28 December 2015 (TBC)
CW 2 – 25 January 2016 (TBC)
Both parts MUST be submitted via turn-it-in on the designated Bb site
Planned
Returned CW 1 – 20 working days after the assignment submission
CW 2 – 20 working days after the assignment submission

Programme management team
Module: Globalisation of Logistics & SCM (PS4S34)

Module leader: Chris Lee

Module Tutor(s): Chris Lee & Prof. Stuart Cole

Indicative Reading list

Mangan, J., Lalwani, C., Butcher, T., (2008), Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management, 1st Edition, Wiley.

Rugman, A.M., and Collinson, S., (2006), International Business, 4th Edition, FT: Prentice Hall

Wild, J.J., Wild, K.L., and Han, C.Y., (2008), International Business: the challenges of globalisation, 4th Edition, Pearson: Prentice Hall.

Worthington, I, and Britton, C., (2003), The Business Environment, 4th Edition, FT: Prentice Hall.

Johnson, G., Scholes, K., and Whittington, R., (2010), Exploring Corporate Strategy: Text and Cases, 8th Edition, ft: Prentice Hall.

Mintzberg, H., Lampel, J., Quinn, J.B., and Ghoshal, S., The Strategy Process: Concepts Context and Cases, Global 4th Edition, Prentice Hall

Rushton, A., Oxley, J., and Croucher, P., (2000), The Handbook of Logistics and Distribution Management, 2nd Edition, Kogan Page, London.

Cole, S., (2005), Applied Transport Economics, 3rd Edition, Kogan Page, London.

Kendall, S., and Cole, S., (2006), Wales and the Atlantic Arc: Developing Ports, Wales Transport Research Centre, ISBN No 1-84054-139-3

Baily, P.,Farmer, D., Crocker, B., Jessop. D., and Jones, D., (2008), Purchasing Principles and Management, 10th Edition, FT Prentice Hall.

Bloomberg, D.J., LeMay, S., and Hanna, J. B, (2002), Logistics: International Edition, Prentice Hall.

Branch, A., (2001), International Purchasing and Management, Thomson Learning.

Harrison, A., and van Hoek, R., (2005), Logistics Management and Strategy, 2nd Edition, FT Prentice Hall.

Jessop D., and Morrison A., (1994), Storage and Supply of Materials, 6th Edition, FT Prentice Hall.

Long D., (2003), International Logistics: Global Supply Chain Management, Springer.

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

Van Weele, A., (2009), Purchasing and Supply Chain Management: Analysis, Strategy, Planning and Practice, 5th Edition, Cengage Learning EMEA

McKinnon, A.C., The Outsourcing of Logistical Activities, Herriot-Watt University.

The Principles of Warehouse Design, 2nd Edition, ed. Jim Rowley, Institute of Logistics and Transport, Corby, Northants, 2000

Other specific references
Lowe, D., (19890, Goods Vehicle Costing and Pricing Handbook, Kogan Page, London.

Lowe, D., (2002), The Dictionary of Transport and Logistics, Kogan Page, London.

Lowe, D., (2003), Transport Manager’s and Operators Handbook, 33rd Edition, Kogan Page, London.

International Chamber of Commerce (1999) Incoterms 2000 & 2010, ICC Publication No 560

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24596181
http://news.sky.com/story/1195306/chinas-car-manufacturing-market-cruises-ahead
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmtran/writev/rail/hsr188a.htm
http://news.sky.com/story/1194101/china-bets-big-on-iron-bird-of-the-skies
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business/25347633 Horse meat scandal
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25548060 MINT
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25908413 a report on Japan’s trade deficit
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24596181
http://news.sky.com/story/1195306/chinas-car-manufacturing-market-cruises-ahead
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmtran/writev/rail/hsr188a.htm
http://news.sky.com/story/1194101/china-bets-big-on-iron-bird-of-the-skies
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business/25347633
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25548060 MINT
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25908413 a report on Japan’s trade deficit
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-20577238

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-20895147 Swansea City
http://www.supplychainbrain.com/content/blogs/think-tank/blog/article/maybe-the-world-isnt-as-globalized-as-we-thought/ – Pankaj Ghemawat
Assessment
Course Title: MSc International Logistics & SCM
MBA
MSc International Business & Enterprise
MSc Management
Module Title: Globalisation of Logistics & SCM

Module Number: PS4S34

Module Leader: Chris Lee
Module Tutors: Chris Lee; Prof. Stuart Cole
Date set: 1st session 28th September 2015
Date due: C/W 1 – TBC
C/W 2 – TBC

Please use ‘Turn-It-In’ to check your assignment for originality when you are drafting your answers to both assignment tasks.

Turn-it-in is set up to enable you to submit and overwrite your answers to check for the appropriate levels of similarity and originality existing in your work and to adjust your work as required. You can submit and overwrite your work up to and including the confirmed submission date / time.

You MUST submit your final assignment submissions through the appropriate ‘turn-it-in portals’ set up on Blackboard, by the confirmed submission date / time.
Retrieval Assessment: TBA

1. Learning Outcomes Tested
In order to complete the module successfully, students are expected to be able to: –
• Analyse and critically evaluate the key drivers influencing globalisation

• Critically evaluate the development and management of the logistics function and the systems involved in the global transportation of goods, their modal split and comparative strengths and weaknesses.

2. Assignment Aim
The aims of the module:
• To identify the key drivers and trends that are increasing the globalisation of industries, markets and sectors, including the role of the SME;
• To explore the structure and management of a global and international logistics and supply networks;
• To examine the main activities involved in global and international logistics and supply chain management.
3. Assessment requirements
The learning outcomes will be assessed through coursework of approximately 6,000 words in length. This coursework is designed to critically assess contemporary globalisation and logistics and supply chain theories and concepts and assess students’ ability to evaluate and suggest performance improvements in a real or case-study organisational environment.

The assessment criteria for PS4S34 will consist of TWO 3,000 word assignments or coursework (CW1 & CW2) as outlined below: –

C/W 1 – 3,000 words +/- 10% (50% of the overall grade) – Submission date – TBC
Assignment Rationale
There are many globalisation commentators, e.g. Levit, (1983); Frear, Metcalf, and Alguire, (1992): Yip (1989, 1992 & 2003); Rugman and Verbeke, (2004); Ghemawat, (2007); Peng and Pleggenkuhle-Miles, (2009), Dicken, (2011) who have all provoked a diverse range of arguments concerning the existence and relevance of globalisation and total global strategies, which can impact upon all types of organisations and sectors.

Some of these commentators (e.g. Dickens, 2011) even went as far to suggest that most recently, the global landscape has drastically changed and he (i.e. Dicken) provoked the idea that “….the economic turmoil that began in 2008 has heralded the end of globalisation……….?”

Consequently, understanding the current discourse of globalisation as a phenomenon and its perceived benefits, drawbacks and myths is now strategically very important for SMEs, MNEs and other key stakeholder groups to know how to position themselves appropriately in their market places?
C/W 1 – Task (3,000 words + / – 10%)
Based upon the above mentioned rationale and using relevant course material and wider reading, present a literature review that critically evaluates the key arguments for and against the existence, role and importance of a ‘total global strategy’ for SMEs and MNEs in 2015/16.

C/W – 2 – 3,000 words +/- 10% (50% of the overall grade) – Submission date – TBC

Assignment Rationale
The notion of a rural public transport policy and system can be used as an exemplar of ‘best practice’ for an integrated logistics and transport system which could be modelled in any country and region in the world.

As a result, TrawsCymru and Bwcabus as ‘real’ logistics and transport case studies you will allow you to research the direct and indirect socio-economic impacts and correlations that the development of such infrastructure and transport systems can have on a particular region.

In this case, the example is Wales as a region and principality of the UK and this study will illustrate how this type of development can help to deliver growth and sustainability of SMEs in that region as well as attracting levels of ‘Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)’ from the location of MNEs in the region too. It will also show the impacts upon other types of key stakeholder groups who operate in this region.

Consequently, the development of this type of infrastructure can make it very attractive for all organisations (e.g. SMEs & MNEs) and other stakeholders to base themselves in the region and conduct their local and global business strategies from that location because of excellent logistics and transport infrastructure and networks. The web links below provide some initial background knowledge of TrawsCymru and Bwcabus. It is very important that you examine these links, as they will help you in CW2.

http://www.trawscymru.info/ http://gov.wales/topics/transport/public/trawscymru/?lang=en
http://www.bwcabus.traveline-cymru.info/about-us/ http://transport.research.southwales.ac.uk/BWCABUS/

C/W 2 – Task (3,000 words +/- 10%)
Based upon the above mentioned rationale, the lecture and material provided by Prof. Cole, plus relevant course concepts and wider reading, present a paper that critically evaluates the key impacts and benefits that a rural logistics and transport approach could have when it operates within an overall integrated transport system in Wales and for that regions organisations and other key stakeholders.
4. General Guidelines for the Overall Papers

• The purpose of both assignments is to allow you to demonstrate your ability to research by reviewing appropriate academic literature and your understanding of the course concepts/theories and their application. As a result, it will be necessary therefore to include references to relevant frameworks, models, concepts and techniques in your response (i.e. using the Harvard Referencing System).

• Information gleaned from the internet / library, newspapers, textbooks etc, should be used and clearly referenced in the main body of your answers. These should also be placed in your Reference and Bibliography section. Help will be provided with how to use the correct Harvard referencing style.

• Current newspaper cuttings / journals can be used, if you so wish, to help illustrate your discussion and these must also be clearly referenced – N.B. DO NOT JUST PLACE THESE IN AN APPENDICES – USE THEM APPROPRIATELY AND JUST REFERENCE THEM CORRECTLY!

• However, if you do use an appendix, you are strongly recommended not to include anything there without referring to it at least briefly in the main body of the answer. N.B. Try not over fill the appendices with irrelevant information!

• Diagrams may be used within your answers and these should also be suitably credited for appropriate inclusion and usage.

• Please do not reference your name at any stage of this assignment. The work will be ‘blind’ marked in accordance with the University of South Wales regulations. For identification purposes, please place your student number only on the front cover only of your answer.

N.B. LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE PENALISED
Grades for lateness will amended appropriately to reflect the degree of lateness as indicated in the University regulations, unless there is proof of mitigating circumstances. If you have genuine extenuating reasons for a late submission, then please make sure that you fill in the relevant documentation that supports a mitigating circumstances application. Ask at the Treforest campus Advice Centre in G221, or click on the link below for more information: –
https://thehub.southwales.ac.uk/Interact/Pages/Content/Document.aspx?id=2075
5. Reference Guidance

It is very important that the sources of material used in your assignments are appropriately referenced. The system of referencing adopted by the University of South Wales Business School is known as the Harvard Referencing System.

Help will be provided by the Tutor on how to use the correct referencing style. In addition, please use the link provided below to the USW guide to Harvard system: –
http://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3168
You should examine and research this link and the guidelines that are provided in PDF format in this link. This is very important for success in both of your assignments in this module!

In order to help and support your research and access to suitable academic sources through current academic journals and papers, please use the following links to the USW library and learning resources: –

http://studentlibrary.southwales.ac.uk/findit/
http://capitadiscovery.co.uk/southwales-ac/
note that inappropriate or absence of referencing in your work WILL affect the final grade of your work and could result in your work being submitted to the Academic Conduct Panel for ‘suspected unfair practice’.