Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Abstract

Sustainability risks are inherent in supply chain operations, including negative impacts on society, the environment, and individuals alike. This course sensitizes students to sustainability’s role in supply chains and the challenges and trade-offs in designing and coordinating supply chains. It provides contemporary knowledge and practices to mitigate risks and sustainably manage supply chains.

Objective

Having completed the course, students will demonstrate an understanding of the theory and practice of supply chain sustainability risks and the sustainable management of global supply chains. In particular: 1. Describe and reflect upon the role, aspects, and importance of sustainability in modern global supply chains. 2. Collect and compare different established and emerging practices, frameworks, and theories on sustainable supply chain management and their relation to corporate strategy. 3. Identify the challenges and trade-offs associated with introducing sustainability considerations to supply chain management. 4. Evaluate and apply the appropriate tools and methods to provide structured and strategic solutions to novel sustainability challenges and manage change across stakeholder groups. 5. Analyze technological developments and trends and their role in developing and facilitating sustainable supply chains to create strategic responses.

Content

In light of recent social and environmental challenges, a range of stakeholders, including customers, investors, as well as governing and regulatory institutions increasingly pressure firms to consider the impact of their operations and supply chain on the environment and society. Sustainability emerges as a major strategic concern for supply chain managers and business leaders, becoming a crucial element in developing and maintaining competitive advantage in global and dynamic markets. You will familiarize yourself with practices in and theories of sustainable supply chain management. The course introduces you to the ongoing global challenges, such as global warming and CO2 emissions, natural resource scarcity, waste and energy reduction. Understanding negative impact lays the foundation for considering sustainability when building supply chain networks and adjusting supply chain strategy. You will, for example, get to know the closed-loop supply chain design. Closed-loop supply chains add the collection and processing of returned products to the traditional supply chain process. Case study assignments and practical exercises within lectures allow you to gain hands-on experience and enhance your knowledge. You will learn about the different types of sustainability risks along the supply chain. In order to identify and mitigate these risks, firms increasingly monitor their supply chains and manage their suppliers for sustainability. Digital technologies offer new opportunities in facilitating the implementation of sustainability practices along the supply chain. During the course, you will explore use cases and discuss current technological developments. The course encourages student involvement through interactive lectures and group discussions. In case study assignments and in exchange with guest speakers, students can gain valuable practical insights and learn to assess contemporary sustainability practices.

Resources